The controversy surrounding actor Hwang Jung-min's private life and allegations of stalking has reignited interest in the stalking incidents faced by other stars.
Recently, a woman identified as A claimed on social media that she had a personal relationship with Hwang Jung-min, sharing messages and recordings. In response, Hwang's agency, Sam Company, stated on July 29 that A is a suspect in a stalking crime who has continuously harassed Hwang.
According to the agency, Hwang has filed a criminal complaint against A, and the court has issued temporary restraining orders against her on three occasions. A was fined 3 million won for stalking in February but has appealed the decision, denying the allegations and claiming she is contesting multiple incidents.
A is also pursuing a lawsuit against Hwang for approximately 200 million won in damages, alleging that Hwang proposed business and creative collaborations based on their personal relationship, which were unilaterally terminated.
The ongoing case involves conflicting claims from both parties, with formal trials and civil proceedings underway. However, this controversy has drawn attention to past instances where unwanted approaches toward celebrities have led to actual investigations and criminal penalties.
Actor Choi Kang-hee recently spoke out about her own stalking experience. On July 15, she revealed on social media that she received a letter from an individual who stated that if she did not express a refusal, he would interpret it as consent and follow her in his vehicle. The person had approached her a few days prior.
Choi emphasized that "silence can also mean refusal" and publicly requested that the individual cease attempts to engage with her without consent, highlighting that even non-malicious actions can instill fear in others.
BTS member V also faced a police investigation due to a woman who attempted to approach his home.
In October 2023, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul charged a woman in her 20s with violating the stalking punishment law after she attempted to access V's residence in Gangnam. Investigations revealed that she had visited his home multiple times. Police identified her based on a security guard's report and CCTV footage.
Authorities issued an emergency order prohibiting her from approaching within 100 meters of V and from contacting him via phone or messages. They also investigated whether this woman was the same individual who had previously delivered a marriage registration form to V.
Jung Eun-ji, a member of the group Apink and an actress, has also been a victim of prolonged stalking.
A woman in her 50s was prosecuted for visiting Jung's home and sending hundreds of messages via social media from March 2020 to December 2021. It was revealed that she followed Jung's vehicle using a motorcycle.
Despite police warnings, the harassment continued. The woman sent a total of 544 messages over approximately five months, even after promising to cease contact.
In September 2024, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced her to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and mandated 40 hours of stalking crime prevention lectures.
Bi and actress Kim Tae-hee have also suffered from a stalker who repeatedly visited their home.
A woman in her 40s visited the couple's residence in Yongsan, Seoul, multiple times from 2021, ringing their doorbell. Despite receiving three warnings for similar behavior before the stalking punishment law was enacted, she continued her visits.
After the law took effect, she was arrested in February 2022 for ringing the doorbell again, following a report from Bi.
In January 2024, the Seoul Western District Court sentenced her to six months in prison and ordered her to complete a 40-hour stalking treatment program, noting that the repeated nature of her actions constituted a serious offense, even without malicious intent.
TWICE member Nayeon experienced a stalker who followed her even onto an airplane after an overseas schedule.
In January 2020, JYP Entertainment reported a foreign man who persistently approached Nayeon to the Gangnam Police Station, filing a criminal complaint for obstruction of business and seeking a restraining order.
The agency stated that police warned the man multiple times in their presence to stop approaching Nayeon, but he continued his behavior. He later attempted to board the same flight as Nayeon upon her return from an overseas schedule, causing a disturbance on the plane. JYP subsequently requested police protection for Nayeon.
While the methods of approach varied, these cases share a common thread: they began with online messages or unsolicited contact and escalated to home visits, stalking, and tracking movements in real life.
Celebrities often have their official schedules and movements more exposed than the general public, and the line between normal fan interactions and unwanted approaches can become blurred.
The Stalking Crime Punishment Act, which took effect in October 2021, defines stalking behaviors as approaching or following someone without just cause against their will, waiting or watching at their residence, and persistently contacting them through information and communication networks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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