[Breaking News] Ahn Seong-hyun, husband of actress Sung Yu-ri, cleared in Supreme Court ruling on cryptocurrency fraud charges

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Supreme Court delivered a final acquittal for professional golfer Ahn Seong-hyun, who had been charged with embezzling several billion won under the pretext of listing cryptocurrencies on a virtual asset exchange.

The Third Division of the Supreme Court held a sentencing hearing on November 12 for the appeal trial in the case involving Ahn Seong-hyun and three others, who were charged with fraud and other offenses under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. The court stated, "We dismiss the prosecutor's appeal." Consequently, the second-instance ruling was upheld, finalizing their acquittal.

Previously, the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Baek Kang-jin) overturned the first-instance sentence of four years and six months in prison for Ahn Seong-hyun during the second-instance sentencing, instead pronouncing him not guilty.

Ahn Seong-hyun and former Bithumb Holdings CEO Lee Sang-jun were charged with receiving 3 billion won in cash, two luxury watches, high-end restaurant membership cards, and other items from businessman Kang Jong-hyun in 2021, after accepting a request to list two so-called "kimchi coins" on Bithumb.

Additionally, Ahn Seong-hyun was charged with defrauding Kang Jong-hyun of 2 billion won by falsely claiming that former CEO Lee Sang-jun demanded the 2 billion won in referral fees be paid quickly. Investigations revealed that Ahn Seong-hyun received luxury goods worth approximately 44 million won from Kang Jong-hyun, including a luxury handbag valued at 3 billion won and high-end clothing.

Subsequently, the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Do-seong), which had handled the first-instance trial, sentenced Ahn Seong-hyun to four years and six months in prison in December 2024 and ordered the confiscation of two luxury watches received during the referral process. Ahn Seong-hyun, who had been detained in court following the first-instance sentence, had been receiving his trial without detention since the second-instance court granted him bail in June 2024. The first-instance court explained its sentencing rationale by stating, "While transparent and sound virtual asset trading should be conducted, referral activities undermine market fairness and transparency," adding that such actions "seriously damage investor trust and can cause significant harm to legitimate investors."

However, the second-instance court ruled that the 5 billion won allegedly transferred by Kang Jong-hyun to Ahn Seong-hyun, of which 3 billion won was charged as having been passed to Lee Sang-jun, could not be recognized as payment for improper referrals. The court stated, "We do not recognize the credibility of Kang Jong-hyun's testimony that he handed over money to Ahn Seong-hyun as payment for a coin listing request," and concluded that this part of the indictment did not hold. It further noted, "It appears likely that the money received by Ahn Seong-hyun was provided in relation to coin investments or other business ventures, as he claims."

Regarding the high-value watches given by Kang Jong-hyun to Lee Sang-jun and Ahn Seong-hyun, the second-instance court found that Ahn Seong-hyun's liability for receiving bribes was not established. The first instance had ruled guilty on charges of receiving luxury restaurant membership cards, watches, and bags under the pretext of a coin listing request.

The second-instance court stated, "Kang Jong-hyun purchased two high-value watches and gave one to each of the two individuals," adding, "We view Ahn Seong-hyun not as a bribe recipient but as a gift recipient. The watch was consideration for a conspiracy regarding gifting, and Ahn Seong-hyun bears no liability for receiving bribes in this regard."

The second-instance court added, "Ahn Seong-hyun appears to have handled investment negotiations on behalf of Kang Jong-hyun in many instances. In such circumstances, it is difficult to find a motive for him to take the risk of being exposed for defrauding 2 billion won," and noted that "the situation where Ahn Seong-hyun claims to have invested 2 billion won into Big Planet on behalf of Kang Jong-hyun appears more persuasive."

The court acquitted Ahn Seong-hyun and ordered the confiscation only of one high-value watch related to Lee Sang-jun's criminal acts. Additionally, considering that the amount of gifts had decreased due to Ahn Seong-hyun's acquittal, among other factors, the court sentenced Kang Jong-hyun to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence.

Ahn Seong-hyun debuted as a professional golfer in 2005 and served as a coach for the Korea national golf team's reserve squad from 2014 to 2018. He married Sung Yu-ri, a former member of the girl group Fin.K.L and an actress, in 2017, and they have twin daughters. Previously, Sung Yu-ri had appealed her grievance, stating, "I pray that the truth about the unfair and difficult matters will be revealed."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original