Actor Hwang Jung-min faces a court-mandated compulsory settlement in a 2억원 civil lawsuit brought by a woman in her 40s seeking compensation for labor related to business and creative activities, according to the Seoul Central District Court. The legal development follows months of dispute involving claims of unpaid work on a soju brand development project and a novel.
Seoul Central District Court Issues Compulsory Settlement Decision
According to the Seoul Central District Court, a settlement hearing took place on August 14, 2026, with neither party in attendance. Because no agreement was reached through standard civil mediation procedures, the court exercised its authority to issue a compulsory settlement decision. Under South Korean legal procedures, a compulsory settlement stands unless either side files an objection within two weeks. The specific terms of the court’s decision have not been made public, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
The litigation began in February 2026, when the plaintiff, identified as A, filed a 2억원 damages claim against Hwang. A alleged she was never compensated for her labor on a soju development project and a novel writing project, leading to psychological distress. Four months after the initial complaint was filed, the court referred the matter to mediation in June 2026.
Business Ventures and Social Media Disclosures
Before the court-ordered settlement, A utilized social media platforms to assert a prior private relationship with Hwang, publishing call recordings and text message exchanges. According to A’s public statements reported by Yonhap News Agency, Hwang proposed a soju brand business that she subsequently managed the practical operations for, and also encouraged her to write a novel.
While the civil case addresses financial compensation for these creative and business ventures, A also faces separate criminal proceedings. Prosecutors requested a 벌금 1천만원 fine against A during a December 11 hearing at the Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court, presided over by Judge Kim Young-ah, where A is on trial on charges of stalking Hwang. A denies the stalking allegations, and the sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2026.
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