Singer-actor Choi Jung-won, formerly of the duo UN, reportedly received a suspended indictment over allegations that he threatened his ex-partner with a weapon.
According to Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 29th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 2 issued a suspended indictment on the 16th for Choi's charge of aggravated intimidation involving a dangerous weapon. Separately, the charges of coercion using recordings under the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act were dismissed. A suspended indictment means prosecutors acknowledge the offense but decide not to take the case to trial after considering the motive and circumstances, the relationship with the victim, remorse, and post-incident developments.
In August last year, after person A—then dating Choi—asked to break up, Choi allegedly contacted A multiple times, went to A's residence, and threatened A while holding a weapon. Immediately after the incident, A reported it to the police, and the court approved an emergency measure barring Choi from approaching within 100 meters of the victim or making contact.
After the controversy broke, Choi took to social media to frame the incident as a private dispute with his girlfriend, calling it "a minor quarrel blown out of proportion." In contrast, A wrote on social media that they underwent hours of on-site forensics and victim interviews and had to move out in the middle of the night, sharing their distress. The conflict between the two escalated into a series of online exposés.
Prosecutors are said to have acknowledged the charge of aggravated intimidation involving a dangerous object. However, they opted for a suspended indictment, taking into account that A later stated they did not want punishment and requested leniency.
Although A initially filed the report, they later submitted a letter of non-punishment to the police and also expressed a desire for leniency during the prosecution's investigation, according to reports.
Regarding the alleged threats to distribute a video, prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence. They reportedly viewed Choi's reaction as an emotional response after A mentioned exposing the matter to the media, making it difficult to prove any threats using an actual recording.
The stalking allegation was also dismissed. Prosecutors reportedly considered that the two had been in routine contact up until just before the incident and found insufficient evidence that A had clearly refused further contact.
Meanwhile, Choi debuted with the group Bronze in 1999. The following year, in 2000, he promoted as UN with Kim Jung-hoon and received widespread public love.