Trot Singer Kim Ho-jung Transferred to Seoul Detention Center
Kim Ho-jung's Devoted Fans Demand "Extra Special Meals"
Controversy Over Luxurious Menu Including Chuncheon Dakgalbi and Hay Rice
Trot singer Kim Ho-joong, who is accused of drunk driving and hit-and-run, has been transferred to Seoul Detention Center, while his ardent fans are causing controversy by sharing the 'Seoul Detention Center' meal menu and demanding additional special meals.
Kim Ho-jung appearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and the June meal plan of Seoul Detention Center. [Photo by Jo Yong-jun, Asia Economy, Ministry of Justice]
On the 3rd, a post titled 'Kim Ho-joong's diet' was uploaded on online communities and social networking services (SNS). The post included a photo of the 'June inmate food menu' at Seoul Detention Center. After Kim was arrested on the 31st on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury and hit-and-run injury), the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving and failure to take measures after an accident), and aiding a criminal, his fervent fans found the detention center's meal menu and demanded separate special meals, sparking controversy.
Seoul Detention Center serves meals three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On Monday morning, Kim ate brown bread with jam, soup, vegetable salad, and soy milk. For lunch, he was scheduled to have tuna kimchi soup, stir-fried garlic scapes with fish cake, seasoned seaweed, and cubed radish kimchi. Dinner included potato handmade rice soup, spicy stir-fried dried shredded squid, pickled onions, and napa cabbage kimchi.
In addition, Kim receives a well-balanced diet including ▲braised quail eggs in soy sauce ▲rice cake soup ▲fish cutlet ▲jjajang tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes with black bean sauce) ▲pork gochujang bulgogi ▲beef soybean paste stew ▲spicy stir-fried squid with rice cakes ▲stir-fried shredded potatoes with ham ▲Chuncheon-style spicy chicken ▲perilla oil kimchi stir-fry ▲high rice ▲beef radish soup, among others. Various side dishes such as multiple types of salads, milk, spoonable yogurt, and fruits are also provided.
Netizens who saw the photo reacted with comments such as "I want to eat like that too," "The nutritional content is top-notch," "How can they serve that well to criminals?" "It looks better than the military," "If the meals are that good, what are the fans worried about?" and "Kim Ho-joong would probably dislike his fans making a fuss." A netizen A, who identified as a working person living alone, said, "This morning I ate canned tuna with instant rice before going to work. Tonight, I plan to cook ramen," adding, "Prices are so high these days that I can't even afford to eat out, but Kim Ho-joong, who gets such good meals and whose fans still say 'treat him better,' must be really lucky," mocking the situation.
Earlier, on the night of the 9th, around 11:40 p.m., Kim caused an accident by colliding with a taxi on the opposite side of a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and fled the scene. He appeared at the police station 17 hours later and is currently detained at Seoul Detention Center. His alma mater, Gyeongbuk Gimcheon Arts High School, demolished the school pavilion called 'Tbaroti House,' which displayed photos and related press releases about Kim, on the 28th.
Kim's fans have drawn criticism for somewhat excessively defending the criminal Kim. On the 30th of last month, a person presumed to be a fan of Kim, B, commented on a concert video of singer Lim Young-woong, saying, "Ho-joong, your senior, is now detained, so how can you enjoy yourself?" and "If you have a conscience, you should use part of the money earned from this concert to help release Kim Ho-joong from detention and contribute to his penalty fees," which drew backlash. On the 2nd, a post by netizen C on the KBS viewer petition board, arguing that although Kim's crimes are detestable, there is a need for generosity to embrace him again after he pays his dues, also received much criticism.
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