South Korean actors scandal lawsuits

In late July 2026, South Korean actor Hwang Jung‑min was sued by a woman who alleged an extramarital affair that began in 2023. Hwang's agency denied the claim, labeling the accuser a stalker. Korean courts issued multiple provisional restraining orders against the woman, fined her for stalking, and the accuser filed a civil suit seeking damages. Film producers also announced legal action to protect promotion of the movie “Hope”.

The following day, another high‑profile case concluded: actor and singer Choi Jung Won, former member of the duo UN, announced that a five‑year legal battle over similar affair and stalking accusations had ended in his favor. Courts rejected the affair allegation, dismissed harassment charges, and a deferred indictment for intimidation was dropped at the complainant’s request. Choi's civil suit was also settled without penalty, underscoring that false claims can dominate public attention despite eventual dismissal.

On 31 July 2026, further details of the Hwang case emerged. The accuser, identified in media as K (later A), claimed the relationship spanned August 2023 to late 2024, involving a few in‑person meetings, proposals for branding work and sexual content for Hwang’s novel projects, and hundreds of messages, some threatening, allegedly even directed at Hwang’s minor son. Hwang reiterated that no sexual or physical contact occurred, described the woman as a stalker who initiated private calls, and said no hand‑holding or kissing took place. The dispute attracted public debate, including commentary from a YouTube analyst, and the plaintiff sought damages of approximately 2 billion won.