"Thought It Was Kim Ho-jung After Watching the News"...Drunk Hit-and-Run Victim Reaches Settlement After One Month

Settlement Reached 35 Days After Accident

Singer Kim Ho-jung, who is accused of hit-and-run while driving under the influence, reached a settlement with the victim 35 days after the accident, on the 13th, Dispatch reported on the 15th.

Kim Ho-jung being sent to the prosecution Photo by Yonhap News

On the night of the 9th of last month, around 11:40 PM, Kim Ho-jung was driving under the influence when he collided with a taxi coming from the opposite direction on Apgujeong-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and then fled the scene. He is also accused of attempting to cover up the incident by coercing an agency employee to falsely surrender and trying to switch drivers after the DUI hit-and-run.

The victim, taxi driver Mr. A, said, "It was the first time we contacted each other a month after the accident, and we signed the settlement papers just one day after meeting." He is currently receiving outpatient treatment, and the taxi is under repair. He also expressed, "I want to rest now. I don't even have the courage to get behind the wheel right away."

Regarding the situation at the time of the accident, he explained, "Suddenly, a car went over the taxi, and the perpetrator fled." He added, "I reported to 112 alone and was investigated, but I only found out it was Kim Ho-jung after seeing the news." He also raised complaints about the police response, saying that although insurance processing was necessary, the police did not provide the phone number. Mr. A said, "I spent a month bearing the medical expenses and car repair costs through my personal insurance."

Later, during the prosecution investigation stage, contact was made between both parties, and a settlement was reached. Mr. A said, "During the prosecution investigation, I received Kim Ho-jung's side's intention, was contacted on the 12th, and received an apology and settled the next day."

Earlier, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office applied on the 7th to extend Kim Ho-jung's detention period, who was arrested on charges including dangerous driving causing injury under the Special Act, and DUI under the Road Traffic Act, and the court accepted this application. The detention period can be extended up to ten days during the prosecution investigation stage, so Kim Ho-jung's detention expiration date was changed from the 9th to the 19th.

Kim Ho-jung has already been expelled from all three major terrestrial broadcasters. KBS held a broadcast appearance regulation review committee on the 29th of last month and decided on a "temporary suspension of broadcast appearances" for Kim Ho-jung, who caused social controversy due to DUI hit-and-run. The level of regulation will be adjusted later according to the court's first trial ruling. SBS aired edited versions of episodes 378 and 383 of the variety show "My Ugly Duckling," in which Kim Ho-jung recently appeared. The on-demand service for episodes from four years ago (episodes 193?195, 200, 202) was also suspended.