Hwang Ui-jo, a South Korean striker who plays for Championship side Norwich City, on loan from Nottingham Forest, has been suspended from playing with the South Korean national team after he was accused of making a sex tape of his ex-girlfriend without her consent.
How did Hwang Ui-jo's illegal sex tape with ex-girlfriend leak?
The scandal emerged after Hwang Ui-jo's public break-up with actress and singer Hyomin, from the famous K-Pop group T-ARA, in March 2023.
Videos of the footballer having sex with an alleged ex-girlfriend were leaked on the internet in South Korea, followed by accusations of cheating and betrayal.
"The leaked videos were filmed after he reached an agreement with his ex-girlfriend. Hwang has been blackmailed constantly since May 7, 2023.," a statement from Hwang Ui-jo's legal team said.
"The blackmailer illegally leaked videos of Hwang and his ex-girlfriend, and although at this point we cannot be sure it is the same person, there has been indiscriminate dissemination of information and financial demands."
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Hwang Ui-jo, who denies allegations, will not be capped for South Korea
The 31-year-old striker, who denies the allegations and maintains that the videos were made with the woman's consent, will not be selected for his country until the police investigation into his illegal sex tape has been completed.
"A national team player must also maintain the honor of representing the country," Lee Youn-nam, an attorney who heads the KFA's ethics committee, added.
"We took into account the fact that a player has to carefully manage his personal life off the field.
"We also looked into how this case will affect the rest of the national team, and how his presence on the field will make our football fans feel."
Hwang Ui-jo could miss the Asian Cup, which starts on 12 January in Qatar.
"These things that are going on is speculation," South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann to the press last Tuesday.
"I live in this world since 40 years of professional football, and there is always speculation.
"And until there's something proven people speculate, I don't believe it.
"Whatever is speculated there in Korea at the moment is not true."
Hwang Ui-jo, who has scored 16 goals in his 60 caps for South Korea, has played for Seongnam, Gamba Osaka, Girondins, Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, F.C. Seoul and Norwich City.
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