Former K-pop duo member Choi Jung-won of the United Nations has been formally referred to prosecutors following allegations of stalking his ex-girlfriend, police confirmed in reports on Wednesday.
Seoul Jungbu Police Station referred the singer to the prosecutor’s office for allegedly violating South Korea’s anti-stalking law. The incident reportedly occurred on August 16, when Choi visited the home of a woman with whom he had been in a relationship.
Police declared that during this visit, Choi engaged in threatening behavior after the unnamed woman broke up with him. In response to the incident, authorities requested and received a court-approved emergency restraining order. This meant that Choi could not get within 100 meters of the victim. The restraining order also prohibits the actor from contacting her via telephone or electronic means.
“This happened when I was about to leave my current girlfriend,” the actor had said in a media interview, as quoted and translated by ChosunBiz. “I explained everything through the police investigation.”
Previous police statements included reports that Choi arrived at the residence carrying a weapon. However, Choi does denied holding any weaponsinstead claiming to have mentioned acts of self-harm during a discussion following the breakup. He also denied the stalking allegations in media statements.
The emergency restraining order against Choi imposes a legal limit intended to prevent repeated stalking or imminent risk to the victim. Violators of such orders in South Korea face penalties that can include up to a year in prison or fines of up to 10 million won (about $6,800).
Choi Jung-Won debuted in 2000 as a member of the United Nations with Kim Jung-hoon. After the group disbanded in 2005, he shifted his focus to acting and has continued to work in the entertainment industry in that role ever since.
This recent legal matter follows previous controversies in Choi’s personal life, including his public life allegations of an affair with a married woman this led to a civil lawsuit filed by the woman’s husband in 2023, seeking damages. Choi denied those claims and sued, leading to an ongoing legal dispute.
The police investigation into the stalking allegation continues, with prosecutors reviewing the case based on evidence presented by authorities.
