Key takeaways:

• Hwang Ui-jo, former Premier League striker, gets a suspended one-year jail term.
• Convicted for filming sexual encounters without consent, with remorse acknowledged by the court.
• The scandal emerged from blackmail attempts by his sister-in-law who is serving prison time.

South Korean international footballer Hwang Ui-jo has been handed a suspended jail term for his involvement in a scandal revolving around the illegal filming of sexual encounters without consent. The South China Morning Post reports that the 32-year-old footballer, who has played over 60 times for the South Korean national team, was given a one-year jail sentence suspended for two years. The court, acknowledging the serious nature of the crime, emphasized the need for strict punishment while also considering Hwang's remorse and the fact that another party was responsible for distributing the videos online.

During the court proceedings, Hwang admitted to filming sexual encounters on four occasions without consent between June and September 2022, pleading guilty to the charges in October. Initially, he had claimed innocence. On Friday, Judge Lee Yong-je stated, “Considering the seriousness of the social harm caused by illegal filming crimes, it is necessary to impose a strict punishment.” Hwang's wrongful acts came to light when his sister-in-law attempted to blackmail him by posting explicit videos online last June, which led to her receiving a three-year prison sentence for her actions, as pointed out by BBC.

Hwang, previously with Premier League club Nottingham Forest and now playing for Alanyaspor in Turkey, expressed deep regret during his appearances in court, offering apologies to both the victims affected by his actions and his fans. He remarked, “I personally apologise to football fans and genuinely feel very sorry.”

The ramifications of Hwang’s conviction could have far-reaching implications on his football career, as South Korea’s football regulations allow for expulsion of members found guilty of sexual offenses. The ongoing issues surrounding "molka," a pervasive problem of voyeurism in South Korea, highlight societal concerns over privacy violations, with numerous cases dominating headlines in recent years. The Al Jazeera report further underscores the cultural impact of this scandal and draws attention to the broader crisis of illicitly filmed content in the country.