'Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run' Kim Ho-jung Appears for Detention Hearing... Likely to Emphasize Need for Non-Detention

Arrived at the court 1 hour early

Trot singer Kim Ho-jung, who is accused of drunk driving and hit-and-run, appeared in court to undergo a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing).

Singer Kim Ho-jung, who is accused of drunk hit-and-run, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 24th for a warrant hearing (pre-arrest suspect interrogation). Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

At around 11 a.m. on the 24th, Kim arrived at the Seoul Central District Court, where the warrant hearing was held, and said to reporters, "I am sorry. I will fully cooperate with today's hearing. I am truly sorry."

Shin Young-hee, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will conduct Kim's warrant hearing around noon on charges including dangerous driving causing injury and hit-and-run under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, failure to take action after an accident under the Road Traffic Act, and aiding a criminal. The warrant hearings for Lee Kwang-deuk, CEO of the agency Saenggak Entertainment, who is accused of instructing Kim's manager to falsely surrender (aiding a criminal), and Jeon (full name withheld), the head of the agency who is accused of removing the memory card from Kim's vehicle's black box (evidence tampering), will be held at around 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., respectively.

The police secured CCTV footage showing Kim staggering as he left his home in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, about 10 minutes before the accident and getting into his car. They also obtained statements from employees of a nightlife establishment and drinking companions indicating that Kim drank about three bottles of soju alone. Kim's legal counsel is expected to emphasize the need for a non-custodial investigation, citing his admission of guilt, cooperation with three police summons, and low risk of flight.