Korea’s Most Popular Film Translator Evaded Prison Despite Repeated Sex Crimes Thanks To His Wife

Recently, Dispatch published a damning exposé of Korea’s most popular Korean-English translator, Hwang Seok Hee, as a habitual sex offender.

Dispatch Exposes Korea’s Most Famous Translator As A Sexual Criminal

Following these allegations resurfacing, it was reported that Hwang was able to avoid a prison sentence despite repeated offenses because of his wife.

According to Dispatch’s report, Hwang committed two separate instances of sexual harassment and assault near Kangwon National University in 2005. He was charged with forced molestation and nighttime assault and received a sentence of a year and six months in prison with two years of probation.

Then, in 2014, he again committed a sexual crime against a trainee at a cultural center where he worked as an instructor. He was accused of attempted quasi-rape and illegal filming of the intoxicated victim. Despite being a repeat offender, he evaded a prison sentence because, during the trial, his wife pleaded for leniency.

According to media reports, Hwang’s wife made persistent appeals to the courts, seeking a lenient sentence, and it is believed that her pleas influenced the sentencing. Hwang was ultimately sentenced to two years in prison with four years of probation, 80 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures, and 80 hours of community service.

Hwang has been married to his wife since 2012. She is also known to work as a translator in the entertainment industry. The couple also welcomed a daughter in 2021. For years, Hwang has enjoyed the public image of a loving husband, owing to his social media posts involving his family. However, following the recent exposé, his image has taken a massive hit, with calls to boycott upcoming movies in which he worked as a translator. These films include Project Hail Mary and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.