SEOUL: The sister-in-law of South Korean football player Hwang Ui-jo has been referred to prosecution for potentially indictable offenses, including unauthorized disclosure of private photos and videos of Hwang and threats of further releases.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) confirmed on Wednesday that the woman, who is married to Hwang's elder brother, allegedly shared indecent photos and videos of Hwang with women on Instagram in June. She is accused of pretending to be Hwang's former girlfriend and alleging that the football player had been involved with multiple women, causing them harm.
Apprehended on November 13 and formally arrested three days later, the suspect is also believed to have sent threatening messages to Hwang from May, hinting at the distribution of his private photos online.
The SMPA has referred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office for potential legal action under sexual violence punishment laws and for the charge of blackmail. However, the police agency noted that they are not pursuing a defamation charge against the suspect, respecting Hwang's wishes.
Meanwhile, Hwang Ui-jo is currently under investigation for alleged illegal filming of a sexual act. The accuser claims that Hwang filmed her during sex without her consent, a charge that Hwang denies, asserting that the video was made consensually.