Former K-pop duo UN member Choi Jung-won has been formally referred to prosecutors following allegations of stalking his former girlfriend, police confirmed in reports on Wednesday.
The Seoul Jungbu Police Station sent the singer to the prosecutors' office for allegedly violating South Korea's anti-stalking law. The incident reportedly occurred on Aug. 16, when Choi visited the home of a woman with whom he had been in a relationship.
Police stated that during this visit, Choi engaged in threatening behavior after the unnamed woman broke up with him. In response to the incident, authorities applied for and received a court-approved emergency restraining order. This meant Choi could not approach the victim within 100 meters. The restraining order also prohibits the actor from contacting her through phone or electronic means.
"This happened as I was in the process of breaking up with my current girlfriend," the actor had said in a media interview, as quoted and translated by ChosunBiz. "I explained everything through the police investigation."
Earlier police statements had included reports that Choi arrived at the residence carrying a weapon. However, Choi has denied wielding any weapon, claiming instead that he hinted at self-harm during an argument following the breakup. He also denied the stalking allegations in media statements.
The emergency restraining order against Choi enforces a legal boundary intended to prevent repeated stalking or imminent risk to the victim. Violators of such orders in South Korea face penalties that may include up to one year of imprisonment or fines reaching 10 million won (about $6,800).
Choi Jung-Won debuted in 2000 as a member of UN with Kim Jung-hoon. Following the group's disbandment in 2005, he shifted his focus to acting and has continued working in the entertainment industry in that role ever since.
This recent legal issue follows previous controversies in Choi's personal life, including public allegations of an affair with a married woman that resulted in a civil lawsuit filed by the woman's husband in 2023, seeking damages. Choi denied those claims and countersued, leading to an ongoing legal dispute.
The police investigation into the stalking charge continues, with prosecutors reviewing the case based on the evidence submitted by the authorities.
