Actor Hwang Jung-min Filed Stalking Complaint Against Woman Claiming Affair, Agency Confirms
Court Issued Multiple Protective Orders as Legal Dispute Continues
South Korean actor Hwang Jung-min filed a criminal complaint last year against a woman who publicly claimed they had been involved in an extramarital relationship, according to his agency, with the case resulting in multiple court-issued protective measures and an ongoing legal dispute.
On July 29, Hwang’s agency, Sam Company, confirmed that the actor filed a complaint against the woman, identified only by her surname A under South Korean privacy practices, in August 2025 on allegations including violations of the country’s Stalking Punishment Act.
According to the agency, a court granted three temporary restraining orders preventing A from approaching Hwang. The court later issued a summary order imposing a fine of 3 million won (approximately US$2,100). A has challenged that decision and requested a formal trial, meaning the case has not reached a final conclusion.
Agency Announces Additional Legal Action
Sam Company said it plans to pursue further legal action over what it described as maliciously edited online posts.
“We plan to take additional legal action regarding maliciously edited posts,” the agency said in a statement. “We apologize for causing concern over this matter.”
The agency did not elaborate on what additional legal measures it intends to pursue.
Affair Allegations Emerged Through Social Media
The dispute became public after A uploaded multiple posts on social media claiming she had maintained an inappropriate relationship with Hwang.
Among the materials she released was an audio recording that she alleged featured the actor. In the recording, a man believed by A to be Hwang can be heard saying he wanted to “hug” her. The authenticity of the recording and the identity of the speaker have not been independently verified.
A has maintained that she and Hwang remained in contact from August 2023 through late 2024.
According to her account, the two first met at a VIP premiere for the film Smugglers in July 2023, where they exchanged contact information. She alleged they later met at a bar in Dongbu Ichon-dong in Seoul’s Yongsan District in August of that year.
She further claimed they met again at Incheon International Airport before Hwang departed for Romania in September 2023. During that meeting, she alleged Hwang suggested launching an alcoholic beverage brand together.
A said they met two additional times afterward but stated that the relationship did not involve sexual intercourse.
Contact Ended Before Complaint Was Filed
According to A, communication between the two ended completely in May 2025.
She said that on Aug. 1, 2025, she sent an email describing her alleged relationship with Hwang to an overseas production company connected to the actor.
Soon afterward, Hwang filed the stalking complaint that led to the current criminal proceedings.
A disputes the characterization of her conduct as stalking.
She argued that the email was intended to alert the production company to what she described as an ongoing civil and criminal dispute involving Hwang before the company could potentially be affected.
A also claimed Hwang had reconstructed the situation by omitting what she described as the context of their communications and relationship while portraying her solely as a stalker.
Those claims have not been substantiated in court, and the formal trial requested by A remains pending.
Background
South Korea’s Stalking Punishment Act, which took effect in 2021 and has since been strengthened through legislative amendments, allows authorities to seek emergency protective measures for alleged victims before criminal proceedings are completed.
Courts may issue temporary restraining orders prohibiting contact or approach while investigations or prosecutions are ongoing. A summary order imposing a fine, known as a summary indictment, can also be challenged by a defendant through a request for a formal trial, which results in the case being heard in open court.
Because A has exercised that right, the legal process is still ongoing, and the court has not issued a final judgment on the underlying allegations.
Why This Matters
The case highlights the increasingly common intersection of celebrity disputes, social media allegations, and South Korea’s anti-stalking laws.
In recent years, entertainment agencies have become more aggressive in pursuing legal action against individuals they accuse of harassment, stalking, or spreading defamatory content online. At the same time, disputes involving public accusations often involve competing narratives that are ultimately resolved through the courts rather than public statements.
As a result, the current case remains legally unresolved despite the issuance of protective measures and a summary fine.
What Happens Next
The next stage of the case will be the formal trial requested by A.
The court will review the evidence and arguments from both sides before determining whether the summary order should stand, be modified, or be overturned.
Separately, Sam Company has indicated it intends to pursue additional legal action over online content it believes has been maliciously edited, although no further details have been announced.
Conclusion
Hwang Jung-min’s agency has confirmed that the actor initiated legal proceedings under South Korea’s Stalking Punishment Act against a woman who publicly alleged they had an inappropriate relationship. While a court has already issued multiple protective orders and a summary fine, the dispute is far from over, with A contesting the ruling and seeking a full trial. Until those proceedings conclude, many of the competing claims made by both parties remain allegations rather than established facts.
