KBS Viewer Petition Board Continues with Kim Hojoong Petition
"Mocked Viewers" "Let's Expel the Criminal"
Trot singer Kim Ho-jung (33) has admitted to drunk driving and undergone police investigation, amid which a petition demanding his permanent expulsion from the music industry has recently emerged.
Viewers' Petition Board Boiling Over... "Committed a Crime and Brazenly Proceeded with Performances"
Trot singer Kim Ho-joong, who is accused of 'hit-and-run under the influence,' is moving to a vehicle after completing an investigation at Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 22nd, multiple petitions related to Kim's expulsion were posted on the KBS viewers' petition board. Among them, the petition titled "Kim Ho-jung," posted by viewer Byeon Mo on the 21st, received the most support. Byeon criticized Kim, saying, "He deserves to be expelled from the music industry," and added, "As a public figure, he repeatedly lied, and right after the drunk driving incident, if he had stepped down and apologized and filed an insurance claim, it would have been handled as drunk driving. Instead, he mocked all viewers and even went ahead with concerts. How can anyone consider such a person a public figure?" He further stated, "Aris (Kim's fan club) fans should also exercise restraint and awaken." This petition garnered support from over 1,780 people.
Meanwhile, on the 19th, a petition titled "Please Permanently Expel Criminal Singer Kim Ho-jung" was posted. The author, Go Mo, said, "We earnestly request KBS to permanently ban and expel criminal singer Kim Ho-jung, who repeatedly committed drunk driving, drunk hit-and-run, driver substitution, and lied about the drunk driving incident." He added, "I am truly angry and shaken to see him shamelessly proceed with performances, blinded by money, without any remorse after committing crimes."
He continued, "If KBS continues to feature Kim Ho-jung, it will face a huge uncontrollable crisis," and pointed out, "It is obvious that KBS will be branded as a disgraceful institution that defends and protects criminals and will face fierce public criticism." He concluded, "I sincerely pray that KBS becomes a righteous broadcaster that expels disgraceful criminals and realizes a just society," and added, "I hope it becomes a broadcaster for the people." This petition received support from over 1,200 people.
If a petition posted on the KBS viewers' petition board receives more than 1,000 supporters within 30 days, KBS must provide an official response. Currently, these posts display the message, "The person in charge is reviewing the petition content. A response may take up to 30 days, and we will provide a sincere reply."
Kim Ho-jung, Who Completed Police Investigation: "What Words Does a Sinner Need... I'm Sorry"
Earlier, on the 9th at around 11:40 p.m., Kim was investigated for allegedly fleeing the scene after colliding with a taxi on the opposite side of a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (charges include hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and failure to take measures after an accident). After leaving the scene, he went to a hotel in Gyeonggi Province and appeared at the police station 17 hours later.
On the 21st at around 2 p.m., Kim appeared privately at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul for questioning. Avoiding reporters, he entered the interrogation room through an underground parking lot and was questioned for about three hours. He resisted facing the press for six hours and left the police station nine hours after his arrival. At around 10:40 p.m., wearing a black hat and glasses with his left hand in his pocket, Kim appeared and said, "What words does a sinner need? I have been properly questioned, and if there are remaining investigations, I will sincerely cooperate," adding, "I'm sorry."
The police plan to apply the Widmark formula (which estimates blood alcohol concentration over time based on the type of alcohol consumed and body weight) to determine whether to charge him with drunk driving, based on Kim's statements and evidence collected so far. The police are also investigating whether there was an organized attempt to conceal evidence, as the manager gave false statements to the police after the accident, and the agency removed the memory card from Kim's vehicle's black box. It is known that the police have not secured any black box memory cards from the three vehicles Kim used before and after the accident.
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