Choi Jung-won Cleared of Charges After Five-Year Legal Battle, Says He 'Lived in Hell'

Choi Jung-won (최정원), 45, a former member of K-pop duo UN who transitioned to acting, became embroiled in controversy in 2023 after a man accused him of interfering in his marriage. Last year, he faced further accusations of repeatedly calling and harassing an ex-girlfriend after she ended their relationship, allegedly threatening to kill her and disseminate private videos while brandishing a knife at her residence. The cases garnered significant public attention. Prosecutors have now concluded their investigation, finding the knife threat credible but opting for a deferred prosecution, considering the victim's request not to pursue charges. Allegations of threatening to distribute videos and stalking were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Following the news, Choi Jung-won spoke out for the first time, admitting the past five years felt like living in a dark swamp, but expressed relief that the series of lawsuits has finally concluded.

According to Korean media reports, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 2 issued a deferred prosecution for Choi Jung-won regarding the special intimidation charges on the 16th of this month. Deferred prosecution means that while prosecutors acknowledge the criminal suspicion, they decide not to send the case to court after considering factors such as the motive, method, relationship with the victim, and post-incident circumstances.

Choi Jung-won was accused of repeatedly calling a woman, identified as 'A,' in August of last year after she ended their relationship, and then going to her residence with a knife, allegedly threatening, "I will kill you" and "I will spread the videos." Police referred the case to prosecutors. Prosecutors determined the knife threat was credible but decided on deferred prosecution because 'A' expressed she did not wish to pursue criminal charges and requested leniency from the prosecution.

Regarding the allegations of threatening to distribute videos, prosecutors found insufficient evidence and dismissed the charge. For the stalking accusations, it was determined that both parties maintained regular contact before the incident, and 'A' had never explicitly refused contact, leading to a similar dismissal.