Bodybuilder Hwang Chul-soon Discusses Prison And Future Plans After 51-Lb Weight Loss

Hwang Chul-soon is a popular name in South Korea, having starred as Jingman on TVN’s Comedy Big League. Alongside this, he’s a popular YouTuber and bodybuilder often recognized for his chiseled 8-pack abs and old-school look. This led him to claim first place overall at the 2016 Musclemania Universe competition. 

As a well-known online personality with a very recognizable appearance, everything he does is often highly scrutinized. On October 16, 2023, he was accused of repeatedly striking a female lover during a heated dispute. After appearing in court, he was sentenced to one year in prison before it was reduced to nine months. 

Following his release on January 30, 2025, Hwang discussed his experiences in prison and how they changed him.

Hwang Chul-soon Released From Prison

On January 30, 2025, Hwang Chun-soon, a popular bodybuilder and South Korean Internet personality, was released from prison. Known more commonly as Jingman, he took to YouTube to share his thoughts and experiences in a heartfelt video. In an eight-minute-long statement, Hwang talked about the challenges faced and how they changed his perspectives on life.

“At first, I thought I wouldn’t last a single day, but I decided to focus on self-reflection and growth. Regardless of how things began, I chose not to make excuses. Instead, I owned my mistakes, reflected on them, and committed to changing.”

On October 16, 2023, Hwang was accused of repeatedly striking his female lover during a heated dispute. He was initially sentenced to one year in prison before this was reduced to nine months. He made no excuses for his actions and discussed his continued desire to reflect and repent.

“Contrary to the initial idea that I can’t live here even for a single day, I’ve already been living a positive life day by day with my life of enlightenment. Regardless of the beginning and reason of the incident, I have not made any excuses for my wrong actions, but have continued to admit, reflect, and repent.” 

During his time in prison, Hwang revealed he had lost just under 51 pounds in a letter that was posted on his YouTube channel. In this, he discussed the harsh realities of being a bodybuilder inside prison.

“I lost more than 23kg after entering the hospital for the first time and had to suffer from extreme stress. This place strictly prohibits even bare-body exercise. It’s like a death sentence for a bodybuilder to be unable to even work out bare-body.”

The strict rules regarding resistance exercise meant that Hwang’s muscles slowly wasted away as his body became unrecognizable. After talking about his lack of training, he described himself as having “Thin limbs but with a swollen belly.”

The Initial Incident And Sentencing 

The initial incident took place on October 16, 2024, in Yeosu, South Korea, In the report, Hwang was accused of punching his then-lover in the face more than 20 times. Alongside this, it was said that he kicked her in the face while arguing in an outdoor parking lot. 

He allegedly dragged her by her hair before sitting her in the passenger seat and continuing the assault. As the argument continued, Hwang was said to have thrown his ex-lover’s phone out of the car. Following the assault, his ex-lover suffered injuries that required three weeks of treatment in a nearby hospital.

In the first trial on October 16, 2024, Hwang was sentenced to one year in prison before being arrested. Following the trial, he launched an appeal with the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Department.

In the second trial, Hwang’s sentence was reduced to nine months after he admitted to his crimes and showed remorse. During the reduced sentencing, the court stated “Hwang Chul-soon admitted all crimes and showed remorse by writing letters of apology several times.” Hwang gave up on his appeal following the reduced sentencing decision. 

In his video, Hwang revealed that the prison guards were surprised at his sentencing. He went on to say he was thankful to some who showed him kindness during his time inside. 

“The prison guards here also comforted me. Some of them told me that they had never seen anyone jailed over an assault case with a three-week medical diagnosis. But rather than dwell on whether it was fair, I accepted it as an opportunity to rest my life. If I made a mistake, then taking responsibility is the only way forward.” 

This reflected Hwang’s desire to learn from his past mistakes, showing a genuine will to change while in prison.

The Harsh Reality Of Prison

In his YouTube letter titled Sorry, Thank You, Hwang discussed some of the harsh realities of life inside prison. Part of his letter detailed the living conditions and the daily challenges that he had to face.

“Even in the record heat wave this summer, we had a time for harsh reflection and reflection by confronting seven adult men in a space of about three. Currently, we have time to atone with cold water showers more than twice a day to correct our minds in record-breaking heavy snow and sub-zero weather.”

Despite the poor living conditions and inhumane treatment, Hwang talked about the unexpected benefits he experienced. For six months in prison, he had no access to cigarettes or alcohol, meaning he had to give them up. Because of this, his health improved significantly, with his blood pressure, liver, and kidney levels returning to normal.

After finally getting rid of his insomnia, which had been troubling him for months, Hwang shared, “This experience made me realize that I want to live a more disciplined, balanced life moving forward.”

Following his release, Hwang talked more about how sitting on the hard floors had given him calluses on his hips. He also stated that he struggled with flexibility while in prison and would need a lot of rehabilitation to get back into shape.

“Physically, my back and ankles—already weak before—have worsened. I’ll need serious rehab to get back into shape.”

On top of this, he discussed the mental effects of his prolonged isolation and how he managed to cope.

“I spent so much time reading and attending seminars in silence that I started forgetting names and common words. My vision has also deteriorated since I wasn’t able to focus on distant objects for months.”

Toward the end of the video, Hwang briefly discussed the political climate inside the prison. In this, he mainly talked about the recent high-profile arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol after being charged with insurrection.

“Lately, the front of the prison has been chaotic because of a high-profile arrival in the cell below mine. No matter the circumstances, I just hope he stays in good health.”

Conclusion

With his recent release, Hwang Chul-soon is determined to make a fresh start as he re-enters the world.

“At times, I battled deep humiliation and self-doubt, but I know there are people who still believe in me. I want to prove myself again; not just through words, but through actions.”

Many of his fans are expecting him to get back to the incredible physique that brought him initial fame. With a fresh perspective and improved health, we wouldn’t be surprised if he quickly rebuilt his body and his reputation.

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