After roughly a year out of the spotlight, actor Hwang Jung-eum is back—and she’s speaking up. Having just launched a YouTube channel, Hwang used her first video to cautiously share what she’s been through and personally address the controversies surrounding her.
On the 19th, a video titled "It’s Been a While. Stories From the Past Year" was uploaded to Hwang’s channel. Sitting in front of the camera with a slightly tense expression, she began, "Everything feels awkward." She continued, "As many of you know, there was a major incident, and I spent all my time trying to manage the aftermath. This past year passed like a single month. I tried my best to take responsibility on my end so no one would be harmed because of me."
Hwang didn’t hide the advertising-related issues either. "I paid all the penalty fees," she said, adding, "But paying money doesn’t erase my wrongdoing, which made me feel even more sorry." She went on, "It was a meaningful occasion after a long time, but because of my actions, I ended up hurting the production staff, advertisers, and even fans. My heart felt heavy about that."
She named her two sons as the reason she could endure the difficult time. "When I looked at my children, they were just so precious, and as their mom, I had to keep going," she said calmly. She also admitted she feared she might never be able to return at all. "Acting is the only thing I know how to do, and I was vaguely anxious about whether I’d ever be able to act again," Hwang confessed.
Reflecting on her life, Hwang shared, "I felt like I failed at marriage and even at making a living. I really lived my life to the fullest, and yet that’s how it turned out." Even so, she emphasized that starting her YouTube channel isn’t just about resuming activities. "I realized there are so many people struggling in this world," she said. "I want to be a friend to single-parent families and to moms like me raising kids. I want them to know they’re not alone."
Hwang also didn’t shy away from the public’s cold gaze. "Some people will ask why I’m coming back or say they don’t want to see me. I think that’s only natural," she said. "I accept that, and I believe I should keep seeking forgiveness for what I did wrong." She concluded, "Until more people can feel comfortable with me again, I think I just have to live and work even harder."
After a period of silence amid multiple controversies—including divorce and embezzlement allegations—Hwang has finally started speaking in front of the camera again, drawing intense interest in what she’ll do next.