The actress, previously a member of the group Sugar, has been accused of the embezzlement of approximately 4.3 billion won from company funds, with prosecutors seeking a 3-year prison term.

On the 21st, legal sources reported that the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office requested a 3-year prison sentence for Hwang during the final trial. The case, concerning violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, was held at the Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, presided over by Judge Lim Jae-nam.

Hwang is accused of embezzling around 4.34 billion won in company funds, including about 700 million won borrowed by Hunminjeongeum Entertainment. She allegedly invested these funds in cryptocurrency, presenting them as advance payments in early 2022.

Reports indicate that of the embezzled funds, approximately 4.2 billion won was allocated to cryptocurrency investments, while the rest covered property and local taxes, among other expenses.

The company involved is a family-run entity in which Hwang owns all the shares and serves as the sole artist it manages.

Hwang has acknowledged all charges and has reportedly reimbursed the advance payments taken from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment by June 5, with relevant documents submitted to the Jeju District Court.

Hwang's legal team has requested leniency, arguing that "The defendant's intention was to grow the company. She lacked understanding of accounting procedures, thinking repayment would address the problem, leading to the offense. There are no other victims, and the full amount has been returned, so we request leniency."

The court is scheduled to announce Hwang's sentence at 10 a.m. on the 25th of the next month.