South Korean actor Hwang Jung-eum has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for four years, by the Jeju District Court for embezzling approximately 4.34 billion won (around $3 million) to invest in cryptocurrency. The court found him guilty of violating the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Economic Crimes. Prosecutors had sought a three-year sentence, but the court considered it a first-time offense and noted that the full amount had been returned. The court revealed that about 4.2 billion won was invested in crypto assets, with the rest used for tax payments. Hwang's legal team argued that the funds were his personal acting income, temporarily held in his name due to company restrictions on holding crypto assets. The case has resulted in Hwang's removal from various entertainment and advertising engagements.