Ahn Sung Hyun, a professional golfer and husband of renowned actress Sung Yuri, has been handed a 4.5-year prison sentence by the Seoul Southern District Court for his involvement in cryptocurrency fraud and bribery. The court found Ahn guilty of violating the Specific Economic Crimes Act (fraud) and engaging in bribery. As part of the ruling, the court also ordered the confiscation of two luxury watches obtained during his illicit dealings.
The case first came to light in October 2022, when Ahn’s connection to Kang Jong Hyun, the alleged real owner of the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb, was exposed. Ahn was accused of colluding with Bithumb employees to extort millions of won from businesses by promising cryptocurrency listings on the platform. Furthermore, he embezzled 2 billion KRW (approximately $1.36 million USD) from Kang Jong Hyun.
Prosecutors had initially sought a 7-year prison sentence, a fine of 2 billion KRW, the confiscation of the luxury watches, and the recovery of 1.5 billion KRW (around $1.02 million USD) in misappropriated assets.
Ahn married Sung Yuri in 2017, and the couple shares twin daughters. Amid the scandal, Sung Yuri chose to step back from her career. Earlier this year, she publicly shared her anguish, expressing hope that the truth behind her family’s hardships would come to light.
This high-profile case has drawn significant public attention, shedding light on the intersection of cryptocurrency fraud and celebrity ties in South Korea.