Admitted Belatedly Ten Days After Accident
"Will Cooperate Sincerely with Police Investigation"
"I committed drunk driving. I bow my head and apologize."
Trot singer Kim Ho-jung (33), who is under investigation for hit-and-run charges, finally admitted to drunk driving.
Kim's agency, Saenggak Entertainment, stated in a press release on the 19th, "We sincerely apologize for causing social controversy due to our artist Kim Ho-jung's scandal and our agency's poor judgment," adding, "From the initial official statement until now, we have been too focused on hiding the situation. We also sincerely apologize for not acting truthfully."
They continued, "Kim Ho-jung voluntarily appeared at the police station, admitted to the facts including drunk driving, and will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation. Lastly, our agency made an irreversible mistake with the wrong belief that we should protect the artist. We bow our heads and apologize again."
Kim himself said, "I want to express my sincere apologies for causing hurt and disappointment to many people due to my momentary wrong judgment," and added, "I deeply regret and reflect on my actions."
Kim was booked on charges including hit-and-run (failure to stop after an accident under the Road Traffic Act) after hitting a taxi coming from the opposite direction on a road in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around 11:40 p.m. on the 9th.
Afterwards, Kim's manager, Mr. A, appeared at the police station three hours after the accident wearing the clothes Kim had worn and testified that he was the one who caused the accident. Kim appeared at the police station 17 hours after the accident, admitted to driving, but firmly denied the drunk driving charges.
Although the agency also claimed that Kim did not drink, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station reportedly received a urine test result from the National Forensic Service on the 17th indicating that Kim was judged to have consumed alcohol before the accident.
The police are considering adding drunk driving charges against Kim and have announced plans to expand the investigation into the agency's attempt to cover up the incident.
Hello, this is Saenggak Entertainment.
We sincerely apologize for causing social controversy due to our artist Kim Ho-jung's scandal and our agency's poor judgment. From the initial official statement until now, we have been too focused on hiding the situation. We also sincerely apologize for not acting truthfully.
Kim Ho-jung voluntarily appeared at the police station, admitted to the facts including drunk driving, and will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation. Lastly, our agency made an irreversible mistake with the wrong belief that we should protect the artist. We bow our heads and apologize again.
Below is the full apology statement from Kim Ho-jung.
I'm sorry. This is Kim Ho-jung.
I want to express my sincere apologies for causing hurt and disappointment to many people due to my momentary wrong judgment.
I committed drunk driving. I deeply regret and reflect on my actions. I will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation.
Once again, I bow my head and apologize.
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