Hwang Ha-na Sentenced to 40 Million Won Fine in 1st Drug Trial; Acquitted of Direct Administration

[26.07.10] Hwang Ha-na Fined in 1st Trial for Drug Use... Court Rules "Insufficient Evidence for Direct Administration"

Hwang Ha-na, an influencer and maternal granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, was sentenced to a fine of 40 million won in the first trial for violating the Narcotics Control Act. The Suwon District Court, Anyang Branch, acquitted Hwang of the charges of direct administration due to lack of evidence, leading to her release from the detention center.

1. Verdict: The Meaning of the 1st Trial Fine and 20,000 Won Forfeiture

On the 9th, Presiding Judge Park Jun-seop of the 3rd Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court, Anyang Branch, sentenced Hwang Ha-na, who was indicted on charges including violating the Narcotics Control Act, to a fine of 40 million won and a forfeiture of 20,000 won. Notably, the 20,000 won forfeiture figure stands out.

This suggests that the court took a strict stance on the lack of evidence for direct administration, leading to a minimal calculation of the criminal proceeds or related items. This negligible forfeiture amount leaves the public questioning how the court perceives the true scale of the drug crime, as it appears disproportionately light given the gravity of the offense.

The court viewed the fact that Hwang committed the crime again despite having served prison time for similar offenses as a serious matter. However, strictly adhering to the principles of evidence-based judgment, the court ruled that the evidence provided by the prosecution was insufficient to prove Hwang's direct administration beyond a reasonable doubt.

Such a decision by the court has reignited deep-seated public distrust—the perception that "the wealthy get off easy, while the poor suffer." The criticism that the judiciary provided a "get-out-of-jail-free card" by prioritizing formalistic evidence requirements over strict punishment is expected to strike a major blow to the judiciary's credibility. This sentencing is difficult to defend against claims that it underestimates the scale and risk of drug crimes, widening the gap between public legal sentiment and judicial standards.

2. The Court's Reasoning: "Low Gravity and Insufficient Evidence"

The primary reason the court chose a fine was that "the gravity of the crime was relatively low." The amount of philopon (methamphetamine) used was reportedly small, and factors such as the fact that she administered it at the request of an acquaintance were taken into account in sentencing.

Furthermore, the court explicitly stated regarding the charge of "direct administration" that "it is difficult to conclude that it was proven due to lack of evidence." Conflicting testimonies from acquaintances present at the scene were also a decisive factor in the acquittal.

The logic that evidence was insufficient could be interpreted as a combination of the prosecution's failure to secure evidence and the court's overly conservative judgment criteria. It forces us to ask whether the court has ignored the practical reality that it is difficult to uncover the truth in drug crimes when internal accomplices collude.

Ultimately, by overly relying on the prosecution's ability to secure direct evidence to establish burden of proof, the court has exposed a structural limitation where judicial justice can become powerless in the face of the clandestine nature of drug crimes.

3. Past History: Repeat Drug Offenses and Recurring Controversy

Hwang Ha-na has already been punished for drug offenses several times, which is why public interest in this trial was extremely high. In 2019, she was sentenced to probation for using philopon with singer Park Yoo-chun, but she committed drug offenses again during her probation and served 1 year and 8 months in prison.

This record of repeated drug offenses was the biggest variable in this trial and a point of significant deliberation for the court during sentencing.

The fact that she continues to repeat the same crimes despite multiple prison terms and probation proves that the current judicial system stops at one-off punishments, effectively isolating the offender temporarily rather than encouraging rehabilitation. We must face the reality that the lack of more robust treatment and rehabilitation programs—beyond social stigma—is a core cause of repeated drug offenses.

The continued criminal activity despite a prior prison record is evidence of how limited a punishment-oriented judicial response is in suppressing addictive crimes.

4. Flight Abroad and Return: Illegal Entry into Cambodia and Voluntary Appearance

After the investigation began, Hwang left for Thailand in December 2023. Despite the invalidation of her passport and a red notice, she entered Cambodia illegally and stayed there. She later expressed her intention to appear voluntarily, leading to her arrest on a national carrier at Phnom Penh Airport and subsequent repatriation to Korea.

The court did not view her overseas stay solely as an attempt to evade the investigation. Instead, it interpreted it as an act of "psychological flight" stemming from social pressure and attention.

The court's decision to prioritize a "human" motive of "psychological flight" over the criminal intent of "evading investigation" carries the risk of providing a logical basis for future fugitives to exploit legal loopholes. This could foster a perception that cross-border crimes are taken lightly and ultimately undermine the authority of South Korea's judicial sovereignty.

Creating an impression that judicial procedures can be adjusted at will through the tactic of fleeing abroad and then voluntarily appearing threatens to weaken the severity of the law and neutralize the enforcement power of the state's judicial system.

5. Social Impact and Future Outlook

This case sparked public outrage as it involves a famous influencer and a figure previously associated with a conglomerate family, engaging in repeated drug offenses. In particular, the fact that the crimes did not cease despite ongoing investigations and judicial rulings came as a significant shock to many.

Attention is now focused on whether the prosecution will appeal. If the prosecution challenges the first trial result, it is expected that another intense legal battle and interpretation of the law will take place in the appellate court.

Above all, the 20,000 won forfeiture seen in this ruling strongly reinforced the public perception that the judiciary's will to punish drug crimes is limited to a "slap on the wrist." This weak economic sanction has deepened public distrust in judicial justice and fuels criticism that the law fails to capture the true weight of the crimes.

When the judiciary fails to uphold the value of fairness, the sense of disillusionment felt by citizens is more destructive than the crimes of individuals. This ruling should serve as a trigger to completely re-examine sentencing standards for drug crimes and implement concrete institutional improvements to realize judicial justice that applies the same standards regardless of social status.

For our society to eradicate drug crimes, it is essential to look beyond individual punishment and create strong, effective government-wide countermeasures to eradicate the very environment where drugs are distributed and consumed.

Category	Details
Charges	Hwang Ha-na Violation of Narcotics Control Act, Fleeing Abroad
Verdict	40 million won fine, 20,000 won forfeiture
Direct Administration	Acquitted due to lack of evidence
Flight/Aiding	Guilty

[🔍 Case Summary & Key Judicial Ruling]

• Case Overview: Hwang Ha-na's solicitation of philopon use to acquaintances and abetting in July 2023, followed by fleeing abroad.
• Key Issue: Establishing evidence for direct administration and reflecting past criminal record in sentencing.
• Verdict: 40 million won fine, 20,000 won forfeiture imposed
• Reasoning: Insufficient evidence (direct administration), small quantity of philopon, request by acquaintances, etc.
• Future Outlook: Prosecution's decision to appeal and possibility of a change in sentencing in the 2nd trial.

Hwang Ha-na, July 10, 2026, Drug Trial, Suwon District Court, Fine, 1st Trial Verdict, Judicial System, Social Criticism, Influencer Drug Case