South Korean footballer Hwang Ui-jo has received a suspended one-year prison sentence for secretly recording his intimate encounters with a woman, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The 32-year-old striker, who previously played for Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, is currently with Turkish club Alanyaspor. He has also represented South Korea’s national team but was suspended in 2023 following these allegations.

A court in Seoul emphasized the severity of illegal filming, stating that strict punishment was necessary due to its harmful social impact. However, the court also acknowledged that Hwang had expressed remorse and that the videos had been shared online by a third party.

During his first court appearance in December, Hwang apologized, saying he was “deeply sorry” for the disappointment caused.

The videos surfaced in June after his sister-in-law uploaded them on social media as part of a blackmail attempt against him. She was later sentenced to three years in prison for extortion after Hwang took legal action against her.

Despite this, prosecutors moved forward with charges against Hwang, alleging that he had recorded sexual encounters with two women without their consent on four occasions in 2022. Initially denying the allegations, he later pleaded guilty to illegal filming charges in October.

He was convicted for offenses involving one woman but was acquitted in the case of the other.

Secretly recording women in intimate situations has become a widespread issue in South Korea. Over the past decade, thousands have been arrested for such voyeuristic crimes, fueling fear and outrage among women across the country.