Avoiding Reporters, to the Underground Parking Lot
Trot singer Kim Ho-jung, who is accused of drunk driving and hit-and-run, appeared at the police station.
Kim arrived at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul around 2 p.m. on the 21st and entered the building through the underground parking lot to avoid the press waiting in front of the photo line.
Kim is accused of causing an accident by colliding with a taxi on the opposite side of the road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around 11:40 p.m. on the 9th, and fleeing the scene (charges include hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and failure to take action after an accident). He appeared at the police station at 4:30 p.m. the next day, about 17 hours later. During this process, it was revealed that Kim’s manager wore Kim’s clothes and gave false testimony to the police, and the head of the agency removed the memory card from Kim’s vehicle’s black box, indicating an organized attempt to conceal the crime.
On the 17th, the police received urine test results from the National Forensic Service (NFS) indicating that Kim had consumed alcohol before the accident. The NFS replied, “Considering that about 20 hours passed from the accident to the urine collection, alcohol metabolites (byproducts produced during the body’s processing of alcohol) exceeding the threshold for determining intoxication were detected, leading to the conclusion that alcohol consumption occurred before the accident.”
Additionally, CCTV footage showing Kim leaving a nightlife establishment and calling a designated driver to go home before the accident was released, and the police reportedly secured a recorded file in which Kim directly asked his manager, “I had a drunk driving accident. Please appear on my behalf.”
After finishing a performance in Changwon on the 19th, Kim released a statement through his agency, Saenggak Entertainment, saying, “I drove under the influence. I deeply regret and reflect on my actions. I will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation.” He added, “I want to sincerely apologize for the momentary wrong decision that caused pain and disappointment to many people.”
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