The investigation into a possible celebrity prostitution ring, which started rumors about several k-drama actresses, has resulted in a single conviction and a fine.
The 2013 investigation started rumors about which actresses might be involved and at least 30 actresses were said to be part of the ring. A few k-drama actresses felt the need to publicly state their innocence and some even took legal action to stop the spread of rumors. Almost all of the actresses who were rumored to be involved had their named cleared when the prosecution said they could only confirm the activities of one actress.
That actress, Sung Hyun Ah, was indicted on charges of prostitution in December 2013 and promptly countersued to prove her innocence.
According to Hancinema, the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Prosecutor's Office has found Sung Hyun Ah guilty and fined her $2,000 for having sex with businessmen and also for arranging prostitution. Sung Hyun Ah, who was the second runner up for the title of Miss Korea in 1994, was charged with three separate incidents of having sex for money. She is said to have met with the same man three times for a total payment of $50,000.
It's not the first time that the actress has been the subject of controversy. She has taken controversial roles, appearing in films such as "Woman is the Future of Man," "The Scarlet Letter" and "The Customer Is Always Right." She was caught using the drug ecstasy in 2002 and published a book of nude photos of herself.
But after her nude film scenes in the film "The Intimate" were used extensively for marketing purposes, she vowed never to shoot nude scenes again. The actress has not appeared on the small screen for three years. Her last drama was "Flames of Desire in 2011" and before that she appeared in "Ja Myung Go" in 2009.
Sung Hyun Ah was married to businessman Heo Eun Gyo in 2007. She divorced him in 2010 and remarried three months later. The actress gave birth to a son in 2012. She is reportedly separated from her current husband and he has been unavailable for comment. A Korean magazine reported that he left her shortly after the birth of their child and that this left her in a desperate situation.
After the trial, Sung Hyun Ah had nothing to say to the press.
