Singer Gil (Gil Sung-joon) was seen accompanying singer Kim Ho-joong, who was arrested on charges of hit-and-run while driving under the influence, on the day of the accident in a recently released video. In response to the controversy, Gil's side stated, "There is no charge related to the incident."
Agency MLD Entertainment issued a statement on the 30th, saying, "Gil is being mentioned in the media as the person who met Kim Ho-joong on the day of the incident," and added, "In this process, incorrect information may be conveyed, and reports and broadcasts based on speculation are actually being made." They continued, "Gil received a request from the police for a witness investigation regarding Kim Ho-joong's charges and responded to the investigation by truthfully stating all the facts he experienced and remembered as an artist."
The agency also said, "Knowing that just being related to the incident could lead to criticism, Gil sincerely complied with the police's request while earnestly asking for confidentiality, but this was not fulfilled as hoped."
On the 29th, Channel A’s ‘Strong Team 4’ released CCTV footage showing Kim Ho-joong and Gil getting out of a car together on the 9th, the day Kim caused the accident. The video showed Gil exiting from the passenger seat and Kim Ho-joong from the driver’s seat. The broadcast reported Kim Ho-joong’s whereabouts that day, saying, "He went to a restaurant for a second round after the screen golf, and then to a high-end entertainment venue in Cheongdam-dong for a third round," adding, "The accident occurred while moving from the third to the fourth round."
It is known that Gil sat in the passenger seat of the car driven by Kim Ho-joong while moving from the screen golf to the second round. As Kim Ho-joong was suspected of drinking even at the screen golf venue, suspicions arose that Gil might have abetted Kim Ho-joong’s drunk driving. However, according to the police’s witness investigation, Gil was not charged as it was determined he did not abet Kim Ho-joong’s drinking.
Regarding this, the agency stated, "There are also speculative claims that Gil may have abetted Kim Ho-joong’s drunk driving," and appealed, "Broadcasting or reporting false information cleverly under the guise of possibility causes unbearable pain to the artist himself."
They added, "Gil is a witness, not a suspect, in relation to the Kim Ho-joong incident," emphasizing, "The police have clearly stated that there is no charge against Gil."
Kim Ho-joong was arrested on the 24th on charges of hit-and-run after causing a collision with a taxi while driving under the influence on a road in Apgujeong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th. Celebrities who were identified as accompanying Kim on the day of the drunk driving accident included Gil and comedian Jung Chan-woo. As controversy over the companions continued, comedian Jung Chan-woo stated, "It is true that we played screen golf together, but I went home afterward."
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