{
  "id": 1846318,
  "title": "Actor Hwang Jung-min faces trial involving woman claiming private relationship",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/actor-hwang-jung-min-faces-trial-involving-woman-claiming-private-1846318",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-19T02:07:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20260819/actor-hwang-jung-min-faces-trial-involving-woman-claiming-private-relationship"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Veteran South Korean actor Hwang Jung-min will undergo a formal civil trial regarding allegations of a private relationship with a woman in her forties, according to judicial officials. The woman filed a lawsuit in February, demanding 200 million won ($142,000) in damages from Hwang, contending she experienced emotional distress due to being unpaid for her contributions to his soju development business and novel-writing project. A mediation hearing was held on August 14 at the Seoul Central District Court, but neither party attended, resulting in a compulsory mediation decision. Hwang's legal team submitted an objection to the court's decision on Tuesday. The court is expected to proceed to a formal trial following the objection, as both sides have now chosen to contest the mediation. In recent social media posts, the woman has shared phone call recordings and messages, claiming a private relationship with Hwang. She asserts that Hwang proposed a soju brand as part of their alleged relationship.",
  "summary": "Renowned veteran actor Hwang Jung-min will face a formal civil trial against a woman who claims to have had a private relationship with him after rejecting a court-ordered mediation, judicial officials said Wednesday. The woman in her 40s filed a lawsuit seeking 200 million won ($142,000) in damages from Hwang in February, claiming she suffered emotional distress after not receiving payment for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Actor Hwang Jung-min faces trial involving woman claiming private relationship",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/actor-hwang-jung-min-faces-trial-involving-woman-claiming-private-1846889",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:18:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Actor Hwang Jung-min faces trial involving woman claiming private relationship",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/actor-hwang-jung-min-faces-trial-involving-woman-claiming-private",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}