UN's Kim Jeong-hoon, Who Said "Trust Me," Ultimately Fined 10 Million Won for Refusing Breathalyzer Test

License Revoked for Drunk Driving in 2011 as Well

Kim Jung-hoon (44), a singer and actor formerly of the group UN, who was summarily indicted for refusing a breathalyzer test after causing a traffic accident, was sentenced to a fine.

According to the legal community on the 10th, Judge Kang Kyung-mook of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 8 issued a summary order on the 24th of last month imposing a fine of 10 million won on Kim, who was charged with refusal of a breathalyzer test under the Road Traffic Act and injury under the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents.

Singer and actor Kim Jung-hoon, formerly of UN.
[Image source=Kim Jung-hoon Instagram]

Earlier, the prosecution summarily indicted Kim in February with a fine of 10 million won. A summary indictment is a procedure in which the prosecution requests the court to impose a fine or penalty instead of a formal trial, and if neither the party nor the court expresses the intention to refer the case to a formal trial, the sentence becomes final.

Kim caused an accident around 3:30 a.m. on December 29 last year on Nambusunhwan-ro in Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, by changing lanes and colliding with the vehicle ahead. The police who arrived at the scene requested Kim to take a breathalyzer test, but he refused three times, according to the investigation. Due to the accident, the driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries, and Kim was also charged with injury under the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents.

After the accident, Kim stirred controversy by holding birthday fan meetings in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, in February this year. At the meeting with fans, he reportedly said, "I will not say that I will try hard or that I am not wrong. But please just believe me. Please believe me so that I can believe in you. I am truly, truly sorry."

Meanwhile, Kim was also booked for drunk driving in July 2011, resulting in the cancellation of his license. At that time, his blood alcohol concentration was 0.129%, indicating a state of intoxication. Kim apologized then, saying, "No matter how many times I think about it, it was my fault," and "It will never happen again." After a short period of self-reflection, he resumed his activities.