Woman accused of stalking actor Hwang Jung-min to be sentenced Sept. 8; prosecutors seek W10m fine

A first-instance verdict in the stalking case against a woman in her 40s accused of targeting actor Hwang Jung-min is set for next month.

Prosecutors sought a fine of 10 million won ($7,070) against the woman, identified only as A, at a closing hearing before Judge Kim Young-a of the Goyang Branch of Uijeongbu District Court, according to Yonhap on Tuesday. A faces charges including violation of the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes.

Prosecutors said the offense spanned a prolonged period and involved an excessive number of one-sided contacts. They added that during the trial A had posted threatening messages targeting the victim and his family on social media, and that the victim had petitioned for a severe punishment.

The court is scheduled to hold a sentencing hearing on the morning of Sept. 8. A was investigated and indicted following a complaint filed by Hwang's side in August last year. After the court issued a summary order in February imposing a fine of 3 million won, A contested the ruling and requested a formal trial.

A's defense argued for acquittal, contending that it had not been proven that Hwang had clearly and consistently refused contact. The defense claimed that even after Hwang had at one point asked A to refrain from reaching out, he subsequently called her himself and otherwise responded to contact in a receptive manner.

In her final statement, A said she would not claim that everything she had done over the past two years was right, but drew a distinction between moments when she acted out of emotional distress and being a stalker who had unilaterally pursued someone for two years. "What I fear most is having this defined as something one person did unilaterally to another, when we had no relationship at all," she added.

During the examination of the defendant, prosecutors questioned A about the circumstances in which she had sent Hwang messages hinting at suicide and files containing what appeared to be a will.

They also asked about her sending photographs of a dead cat and a tissue stained with blood, as well as her contacting Hwang's underage son.

A acknowledged sending the messages and files but said she had not intended to cause Hwang anxiety or fear, describing them as communications sent in the course of conveying her state of mind and trying to bring closure to the relationship.