Actor Hwang Jung-min rejects court-mediated decision in 200 million won damages suit
According to the woman who filed the suit, Hwang Jung-min proposed launching a soju brand, for which she handled the practical work, and encouraged her to write a novel, but he did not compensate her.
Actor Hwang Jung-min answers questions during a press screening of the film “Hope” at Megabox Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on July 6.
NEWS1
Actor Hwang Jung-min has rejected a court-ordered settlement in a 200 million won ($142,500) damages lawsuit — filed by a woman who claims that she worked with him on a soju business and a novel without compensation — sending the case toward a formal trial.
The woman has also separately alleged on social media that the two had a personal relationship.
Hwang’s legal team filed an objection with the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, according to legal sources on Wednesday.
The court held the mediation session — which neither side attended — on Friday, during which it ordered the settlement as part of a court-ordered mediation decision. In such cases, a court can issue a decision in place of a mediated settlement. If either the plaintiff or defendant objects to the court’s decision within two weeks, the case proceeds to a formal trial.
The woman filed the damages suit in February. She accused Hwang of failing to compensate her for work related to developing a soju business and writing a novel, which led to her suffering from emotional distress. She is seeking 200 million won in damages.
According to the woman, Hwang proposed launching a soju brand, for which she handled the practical work, and encouraged her to write the novel.
Separately, she recently claimed on social media that she had a personal relationship with the actor and posted alleged photos, messages and phone call recordings between them as proof.
The woman is also standing trial on charges of stalking Hwang, which she has denied. At the final hearing before the Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court on Aug. 11, prosecutors asked that she be fined 10 million won. The sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8.
Hwang made his screen debut in the 1990 film “The General’s Son” and has since appeared in numerous box-office hits, including “Ode to My Father” (2014), “Veteran” (2015) and “12.12: The Day” (2023) — all of which surpassed 10 million admissions. He most recently starred in Na Hong-jin’s “Hope,” which had its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17.
BY JANG GU-SEUL [kim.hayoon1@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
