Kwon Jin-young, the CEO of Hook Entertainment, received a suspended prison sentence on April 3, 2026, following charges that she misused company funds for personal gain.
The 12th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court, led by Chief Judge Park Jong-ryul, sentenced Kwon to two years in prison with a four-year suspension. The ruling follows charges of embezzlement and breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
Details of the Embezzlement Case
Kwon was indicted in October for the alleged misuse of approximately 4 billion won from Hook Entertainment’s corporate funds. The court found that the embezzlement occurred over a decade, spanning from 2012 to 2022.
According to court records, the funds were used to cover personal expenses, which included the purchase of furniture and the payment of insurance premiums.
Court Findings and Ruling
In delivering the sentence, the court addressed the nature of the crime and the defendant’s conduct during the trial. The court stated that exercising control over a company to arbitrarily use its assets is not socially acceptable and cannot be considered a minor offense.
Despite the severity of the charges, the court granted a suspended sentence based on several mitigating factors. The judiciary acknowledged that Kwon had admitted to the charges and that the total damages had been recovered through a combination of repayment and deposits.
Additional Legal Challenges
The embezzlement sentencing is one of several legal hurdles currently facing the Hook Entertainment executive. Kwon is also undergoing a separate trial regarding allegations that she illegally obtained sleeping pills through the assistance of an employee.
Kwon has been embroiled in a significant financial dispute with singer and actor Lee Seung-gi. This conflict centers on unpaid settlement payments owed to the artist during his time with the agency.