Shocking allegations about actor Hwang Jung-min's private life are spreading online, as accuser A detailed how they first met and continued communicating with the star. Hwang's camp fiercely denied the claims, saying the poster is a stalking suspect, while the film Hope also announced plans for legal action.
According to JTBC current affairs program Scandal Supervisor on the 29th, A claims they first met Hwang Jung-min at a July 2023 preview screening of the film smuggling. A says they stayed in contact from August of that year through late 2024.
A alleges they exchanged contact information with Hwang at the screening and had their first drinks together in Yongsan, Seoul, in August. They say they met again at Incheon International Airport in September, before Hwang departed for Romania, where they also drank together—and claim Hwang proposed launching an alcohol brand at that meeting. A further asserts they met two additional times after that, for a total of four meetings, but emphasizes there was no sexual relationship.
Previously, A posted on their social media claiming they had been in a romantic relationship with Hwang. They also uploaded screenshots of chat messages, call logs, and audio files as purported evidence. However, the authenticity of those materials has not been verified.
As the controversy escalated, Hwang Jung-min's agency, Sam Company, issued an official statement flatly refuting the allegations. "The author of the malicious posts about Hwang Jung-min is a suspect in a stalking crime who has persistently harassed him," the agency said, adding, "Hwang Jung-min has filed a criminal complaint against the author." The agency continued, "The court has imposed provisional restraining orders on the suspect three times and, recognizing the stalking charges, issued a summary order imposing a fine of 3 million won," and argued that the online posts were "maliciously edited," signaling additional legal action.
A has also filed a damages lawsuit against Hwang Jung-min seeking roughly 200 million won. The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 42 sent the case to mediation in June, with a mediation date set for August 14.
Amid the swelling private life controversy, Hwang still appeared for the scheduled official promotions of Hope. On the 29th, a stage greeting for Hope was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul’s Yongsan District, with director Na Hong-jin and actors Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon in attendance. Dressed casually, Hwang told the crowd, "Thank you so much for coming to see Hope on a weekday. Please enjoy the film and recommend it to people around you."
Hwang made his way through the audience, meeting eyes with fans and posing for photos, offering enthusiastic fan service. Notably, he interacted with viewers while wearing his wedding ring on his left ring finger, drawing attention.
Meanwhile, the Hope team also took a hardline stance. Distributor Plus M Entertainment and production company Forged Films claimed the poster had emailed the film’s partner companies, causing disruption amounting to interference with business. The two companies said, "This not only harms the overall business of Hope but also maliciously damages the efforts and reputations of the people who worked on the film," defining the acts as intentional harm against the movie. They added that they are reviewing legal measures for the damage inflicted on the project and will respond strongly to prevent further harm.
Separate from the controversy, Hwang plans to continue with his scheduled stage greetings. On the 30th (today), he is set to meet audiences at CGV Wangsimni, followed by CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall and CGV Centum City on August 1, and CGV Daegu Hanil and CGV Daegu on the 2nd.
Released on the 15th, Hope follows Beom-seok (played by Hwang Jung-min), the head of the Ho-po Port branch office near the Demilitarized Zone, as a reported tiger sighting by local youths throws the entire village into a state of emergency, forcing them to confront an unbelievable reality. As of the 30th, Hope has drawn a cumulative audience of around 3.7 million.