South Korean footballer Hwang Ui-jo has received a suspended one-year jail sentence for unlawfully recording his sexual encounters with a woman, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The 32-year-old, a former Nottingham Forest striker, currently plays for the Turkish club Alanyaspor.
He also represents the South Korea national team but was suspended in 2023 following the allegations.
The Seoul court said that “given the seriousness of the socially harmful effects of illegal filming, it is necessary to punish [Hwang] strictly”.
The report highlighted that Hwang Ui-jo had expressed remorse for his actions, noting that the videos were shared on social media by a third party.
Hwang apologized for causing “disappointment” during his initial court appearance last December.
The videos came to public attention in June after Hwang’s sister-in-law shared them on social media in an attempt to blackmail him.
She was sentenced to three years in prison in September following Hwang’s decision to sue her.
Despite this, charges against Hwang moved forward, as prosecutors revealed he had recorded sexual encounters with two women without their consent on four occasions in 2022.
Initially claiming innocence, Hwang later pleaded guilty to illegal filming charges in October. He was convicted of charges related to one woman but acquitted of those involving the other.
The use of hidden cameras to secretly record women and their intimate moments is a pervasive issue in South Korea.
Over the past decade, thousands have been arrested for such voyeuristic acts, fueling widespread fear and outrage among women nationwide.