‘I wanted to teach him a lesson’: Hwang Ui-jo's sister-in-law flips sex tape testimony

The sister-in-law of football star Hwang Ui-jo confessed to a court that she leaked Hwang’s sex tapes in revenge, reversing her previous denials.

Hwang Ui-jo waves to fans after beating Singapore for the World Cup Asian qualifiers at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Nov. 16, 2023. [NEWS1]

The sister-in-law of football star Hwang Ui-jo confessed to a court that she leaked Hwang’s sex tapes in revenge, reversing her previous denials.

The sister-in-law, surnamed Lee, submitted a handwritten letter of apology to the Seoul Central District Court, regretting her actions, according to a local report on Wednesday.

Lee, who is currently indicted under detention, denied that she leaked Hwang’s sex tapes until recently, claiming that his internet router was hacked.

“I wanted to teach him a lesson as he didn’t acknowledge the sacrifice that my husband and I have made for him,” Lee said in her letter. “I committed the crime to make Hwang rely on us again.”

“Our couple gave up everything in Korea and moved abroad for Hwang’s success and had looked after him for five years,” she said. “However, there were some conflicts between Hwang and my husband last year while Hwang was preparing to return to his English club.”

“I felt betrayed by Hwang for not acknowledging my husband’s hard work,” she said. “I felt more betrayed because I also left everything behind in Korea, giving up my dream and education to follow my husband for Hwang, spending lonely days abroad.”

Lee claimed that she found a video of Hwang, a striker for Turkish football team Alanyaspor, and an unknown woman having a sexual encounter on the player’s phone as she normally managed Hwang’s personal life.

“The only intention was to teach Hwang a lesson,” she said. “I edited the video so the woman’s face would not be exposed. I never thought of ruining Hwang’s career or harming the woman.”

Lee also apologized for her actions, saying “I made a mistake that cannot be reversed, blindsided by revenge and fear. If I could go back in time, I would return everything back to as it was, in exchange for my life, without any hesitation.”

“I will receive my punishment, not downplaying or hiding any of my crime during the remaining trial and live in remorse and apologize to the victims for the rest of my life. I want to sincerely apologize to the victims.”

BY KIM JI-HYE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]