[Column] Kim Ho-jung's Concert Proceeding: Balancing Responsibility and Financial Loss Recovery

Celebrities earn money through their popularity. Fans open their wallets for movies, music, and products endorsed by their favorite celebrities. Considering their influence, the social responsibilities that celebrities must bear are not light. Recently, Kim Ho-jung, who is facing arrest over allegations of 'hit-and-run while driving under the influence,' is a representative case showing how serious the 'moral hazard' in the entertainment industry is.

On the night of the 9th, Kim Ho-jung is accused of hitting a taxi coming from the opposite direction across the center line on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and fleeing the scene (charges include injury by dangerous driving under the Specific Crimes Aggravated Punishment Act). The police requested an arrest warrant for Kim Ho-jung and his agency officials on the 22nd. Despite this, Kim Ho-jung's agency expressed their intention to proceed with the 'World Union Orchestra Super Classic: Kim Ho-jung & Primadonna' concert scheduled for the 23rd and 24th. When the controversy arose, KBS withdrew, and orchestra members also distanced themselves, but Kim Ho-jung insisted on performing.

The agency stated, "Kim Ho-jung plans to suspend all activities and take a period of self-reflection after the concerts on the 23rd and 24th," adding, "He will accept any punishment resulting from the police investigation." Typically, 'self-reflection' means apologizing and immediately halting all activities when involved in a crime, but Kim Ho-jung said he would self-reflect after the concerts. This is interpreted as an intention not to forgo concert revenue. The court, which had been observing the situation, announced it would conduct a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) around noon on the 24th, the day of Kim Ho-jung's scheduled concert. Since the suspect will be in custody, the concert starting at 8 p.m. on the 24th is practically impossible.

Some interpret Kim Ho-jung's actions as an attempt to give fans the impression that "promises will be kept," but above all, criticism cannot be avoided that he is pushing forward to avoid paying tens of billions in penalties. Previously, Kim Ho-jung proceeded with the Goyang concerts on the 11th and 12th and the Changwon concerts on the 18th and 19th as scheduled, immediately after the drunk hit-and-run incident. Thanks to this, he avoided penalty fees and completed four concerts with sales totaling 4 billion won. Even if he avoids financial losses for now, lost public trust cannot be bought with money. It takes years or decades to gain popularity, but a carefully built tower can collapse in an instant.