Prosecutors seek four-year prison term for sister-in-law in Hwang Ui-jo sex tape case

Prosecutors sought a four-year prison sentence for the sister-in-law of football star Hwang Ui-jo for leaking Hwang's sex tapes on Wednesday.

Football player Hwang Ui-jo speaks to the press at the Incheon International Airport on Feb. 6, 2023. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors sought a four-year prison sentence for the sister-in-law of football star Hwang Ui-jo for leaking Hwang's sex tapes on Wednesday.

During the sister-in-law’s hearing Wednesday, the prosecutors asked for the sentence to the Seoul Central District Court on sexual assault charges of spreading footage of Hwang’s sexual encounters.

“I caused massive damage to the victims and I sincerely regret my actions,” the sister-in-law said during her final statement at the hearing.

The sister-in-law confessed to the court through a handwritten letter of apology on Feb. 20 that she leaked Hwang’s personal videos to seek revenge, citing that she wanted to “teach him a lesson.”

According to the court, Hwang submitted a letter to waive the penalty against her, while the female victim, who was involved in the video, submitted a petition to heavily punish the sister-in-law.

“Four years is too short,” a victim’s attorney who attended the court said. “We will show no tolerance [toward the sister-in-law].”

The sister-in-law is presently under indictment and in detention for charges related to disseminating Hwang's sex tapes and blackmailing the player, who is currently playing for Turkish side Alanyaspor. She denied it until her confession, claiming that Hwang’s internet router was hacked.

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