On February 12, Hwang Jung Eum posted on social media, “Giving away toys for free. These are toys that my children have used carefully if you need them, feel free to take them ♥,” along with photos. It said the delivery will take place from February 13 to 15 in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul, between 12pm and 7pm.
The images shared showed a large number of toys including cars, robots and dinosaur figures piled up on the floor. The toys appeared to belong to her two children.
However, the reaction online has been less than warm. Some netizens criticized the post, leaving comments like: “You should pay to dispose of waste properly”, “If it’s a freebie, shouldn’t you at least sort it first?” and “It sounds like you’re just trying to save on trash bag fees.”
The backlash comes in the wake of Hwang’s legal troubles. Last year she was indicted on charges of embezzling ₩4.3 billion from her personal company. He received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for four years. After admitting all charges, he repaid the full amount of damages in two installments in May and June last year.
Given the circumstances, many observers interpret the toy gift through a more critical lens.
Meanwhile, Hwang recently completed the registration process for his one-man agency, Hunminjeongeum Entertainment, as a public cultural and arts planning company. According to the Integrated Information System for Popular Culture and Arts Industry, the registration was finalized on January 23. The company, founded in 2013, lists Hwang as CEO and his mother as inside director.
Previously, controversy had arisen when it was discovered that the company had been operating without proper registration. Hwang’s side explained that the management services had been provided through his former agency, leading them to believe that a separate registration was not necessary. They added that the registration process had been ongoing since November 2025.
Hwang Jung Eum finalized her divorce in May last year and is currently raising her two children alone. With his agency registration now complete, attention is turning to whether this will mark the beginning of his return to the entertainment industry.
Sources: Nate
