'Hit-and-Run Controversy' Kim Ho-jung Appoints Former Acting Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan as Legal Counsel

Submitted Senior Appointment to Gangnam Police Station on the 16th
Left Prosecution in 2022 to Open Private Office
Agency: "Most Trusted Lawyer"

Singer Kim Ho-jung, who is suspected of hit-and-run, drunk driving, and driver substitution, has appointed lawyer Cho Nam-gwan, who served as acting Prosecutor General, as his defense attorney.

On the 17th, SBS reported that Cho submitted a letter of retention to the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul the previous day. Cho, a former prosecutor, served as Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice and Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. In 2020, when then-Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol was suspended, Cho served as acting Prosecutor General. After leaving the prosecution in April 2022 following his last appointment as head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he opened a private office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and is currently working as a lawyer. Cho also has a history of working with Lee Chang-soo, the new chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which is handling the Gangnam Police Station case, at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. A representative of Kim Ho-jung's agency told SBS, "We considered (lawyer Cho) the most trustworthy attorney," explaining the reason for his appointment.

The appearance of Attorney Jo Nam-gwan while acting as the Prosecutor General / Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Kim is accused of fleeing the scene after colliding with an oncoming taxi while driving 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 after the accident, 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 testified that he was the one who caused the accident. Kim appeared at the police station at 4:30 p.m. on the 10th, 17 hours after the accident.

The police are investigating whether Kim was driving under the influence and the allegation of "driver substitution." Lee Kwang-deuk, CEO of Kim's agency Saenggak Entertainment, completely denied the drunk driving allegations, stating, "On the day of the accident, Kim Ho-jung visited a nightclub for greetings but did not drink because he had a concert coming up." He also said that he instructed the manager to appear on Kim's behalf.

The nightclub Kim visited on the day of the accident is known as a "ten-pro," a type of establishment where female hostesses accompany customers at their tables. This venue promotes itself as a high-end, membership-based entertainment establishment. Kim took a car driven by a designated driver affiliated with this venue to return home, then switched cars and drove himself to another drinking party, during which the accident occurred. While Kim claims he did not drink, the venue explained that they provide designated drivers to VIPs regardless of alcohol consumption.

Singer Kim Ho-jung [Photo by Yonhap News]

As evidence emerged that the agency was systematically involved in the incident, related parties were consecutively booked. On the 16th, from around 6:35 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Gangnam Police Station conducted a search and seizure of Kim Ho-jung's residence in Gangnam-gu, the CEO's residence and office of the agency. Following this, Saenggak Entertainment CEO Lee Kwang-deuk, the agency's head, and the manager were booked on charges of aiding and abetting a criminal. Additionally, the manager who gave false testimony was charged with obstruction of official duties by deception, and the head who removed the black box memory card was charged with evidence tampering.

The broadcasting and advertising industries quickly distanced themselves from Kim Ho-jung. KBS's entertainment program "Shinsang Chulsi Pyeonstorang" decided to edit out as much of Kim's footage as possible. Convenience store GS25 decided not to release the 225th episode's winning menu by Kim Ho-jung, which was scheduled for release on the 17th.

Despite these circumstances, Kim and his agency plan to proceed with performances held on the 11th and 12th after the accident, as well as upcoming scheduled concerts. Kim is preparing for the "Trotarotti Classic Arena Tour" at the Changwon Sports Park Indoor Gymnasium in Gyeongnam on the 18th and 19th, and at the Gimcheon Indoor Gymnasium on June 1st and 2nd. Both concerts are hosted by Kim Ho-jung's agency. Additionally, KBS has requested the event organizer to find a replacement performer for the "World Union Orchestra Super Classic" concert scheduled for the 23rd and 24th. KBS also informed the organizer that if Kim performs as originally planned, the use of KBS's hosting name and logo will be prohibited.