Actress Sung Yu-ri, a former member of the group Fin.K.L, is once again in the spotlight for remarks she previously made about her husband's controversy. This follows her husband, professional golfer An Seong-hyun, being found not guilty in connection with coin fraud charges.
On the 12th, the Supreme Court finalized the lower court's acquittal of professional golfer An Seong-hyun, who had been indicted on charges of breach of trust for receiving benefits and fraud under the Act on Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
An was prosecuted on charges that in 2021, he received cash worth 3 billion won, two luxury watches valued at a total of 400 million won, and other items from businessman Kang Jong-hyun and others, in exchange for soliciting the listing of specific coins on the Bithumb exchange. He also faced charges of separately pocketing 2 billion won as compensation for the listing solicitation.
The first-instance court sentenced him to four years and six months in prison, but the second-instance court overturned the verdict and acquitted him, citing a lack of credibility in Kang's testimony among other reasons.
The second-instance court panel determined that the cash An received from Kang "appears to have been distributed as profits from another business, rather than for the purpose of soliciting a listing." The court also found him not guilty on the charge of pocketing 2 billion won, reasoning that it was possible Kang had handed over the money under the pretext of investment.
Regarding the charge of receiving luxury watches, the court viewed them as a simple gift rather than consideration for the solicitation.
The Supreme Court also upheld the appellate court's judgment, finding no issues with it and finalizing An's acquittal. However, Lee Sang-jun, former CEO of Bithumb Holdings, who was indicted on the same charges, had his sentence finalized at two years in prison with a three-year suspended sentence, while Kang received a one-year prison sentence with a two-year suspension.
An debuted as a professional golfer in 2005 and served as a coach for the South Korea national golf team's reserve squad from 2014 to 2018. He married Sung Yu-ri in 2017, and they have twin daughters.
In a post on social media (SNS) marking the start of 2024, Sung Yu-ri directly mentioned her husband's controversy, stating, "I earnestly pray that the truth about the unjust and difficult matters our family is going through will come to light."
Sung Yu-ri, who had suspended her broadcasting activities due to her husband's case, made a comeback last year via home shopping and recently announced Fin.K.L's return after 21 years. With her husband's acquittal finalized, Sung Yu-ri has been relieved of much of the burden regarding Fin.K.L's full-group activities.
in ENTERTAINMENT
