Lingering in an alley 200m from the accident site while on a call
Raising suspicions by staying at a hotel instead of going home on the day of the accident
CCTV footage capturing Kim Ho-jung making a phone call immediately after fleeing the scene of a minor collision [Image source=Channel A news screen capture]
Singer Kim Ho-joong (33), who is suspected of drunk driving after fleeing the scene of a minor collision, was caught on camera making a phone call shortly after the accident.
On the 16th, Channel A released CCTV footage showing Kim making a phone call in an alley about 200 meters away from the accident scene immediately after the incident. In the video, Kim is seen getting out of his car, with one hand in his pants pocket and the other holding a phone to his ear, pacing back and forth in the alley while talking. Earlier, on the 15th, Kim’s agency stated, "Kim suffers from panic disorder and left the scene without handling the accident due to a poor judgment." However, Kim’s behavior in the video is considered far from typical symptoms of panic disorder.
Kim is accused of fleeing the scene after colliding with an oncoming taxi on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around 11:40 p.m. on the 9th (violation of the Road Traffic Act for failure to take action after an accident). About two hours later, at around 2 a.m. on the 10th, Kim’s manager went to the police station wearing the clothes Kim had worn at the time of the accident and falsely confessed to causing the accident. Kim appeared at the police station 17 hours after the accident, at 4:30 p.m. on the 10th.
The police are investigating whether Kim was driving under the influence and the allegation of "driver swapping." Lee Kwang-deuk, CEO of Kim’s agency Saenggak Entertainment, completely denied the drunk driving suspicion, claiming, "On the day of the accident, Kim Ho-joong visited a nightclub for greetings but did not drink as he was preparing for a concert." He also stated that he instructed the manager to appear on Kim’s behalf.
It was also revealed that Kim did not return home on the day of the accident but stayed at a hotel in the Gyeonggi area.
On the 16th, Yonhap News reported that after Kim’s manager falsely confessed to driving, the police repeatedly requested Kim to appear, but he did not respond, and when the police visited Kim’s home, he was not there. The police are said to have secured a recorded file in which Kim asks his manager to appear on his behalf, saying he caused the accident while drunk driving. There is speculation that Kim may face additional charges such as aiding the escape of a criminal or obstruction of justice. Regarding this recording, a representative from Kim’s agency said, "The voice in the recording is not Kim’s but the CEO’s."
Moreover, the disappearance of the black box memory card from Kim Ho-joong’s vehicle, which is crucial evidence to clarify the hit-and-run allegations, has further fueled suspicions. In this regard, Kim’s agency stated, "Another manager who arrived at the scene earlier removed the memory card on his own judgment." It is known that the memory card was damaged intentionally by the manager.
The police are investigating Kim on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take action after an accident) and hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The taxi driver involved in the collision with Kim’s vehicle reportedly received hospital treatment for injuries.
On the evening of the 14th, the police summoned Kim and questioned him for about eight hours. So far, four people including Kim, his manager, and the agency CEO have been questioned. Based on the fact that the black box memory card was missing from Kim’s vehicle, the police applied for a search warrant for Kim on the 14th. If the warrant is issued, the police plan to thoroughly investigate the whereabouts of Kim and agency officials after the accident.
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