'Hit-and-Run' Kim Ho-joong, Reason for Donating 15 Million Won During Police Investigation?

Donation of 15 Million Won Delivered in May
Volunteer Activity Missed Due to Police Investigation

Singer Kim Ho-jung, who is on trial for hit-and-run while driving under the influence, was revealed to have donated money to a homeless shelter last May while under police investigation.

Kim Ho-jung standing in front of the press [Photo by Yonhap News]

The Seoul Station Temporary Shelter for the Homeless announced that Kim Ho-jung donated 15 million won in operating expenses last May to provide breakfast for the homeless. Originally, Kim planned to visit the facility and volunteer by providing breakfast to 250 homeless people, but due to the police investigation for hit-and-run while driving under the influence, he delivered the donation instead of volunteering. However, the volunteer activity proceeded as scheduled with the attendance of agency staff and comedians.

This fact came to light during the process of a shelter official submitting a petition on behalf of Kim Ho-jung, who is currently on trial.

On May 9, around 11:44 p.m., Kim Ho-jung was driving under the influence in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, when he crossed the center line and collided with a taxi on the opposite lane, then fled the scene. After fleeing, he pressured agency staff to falsely surrender and refused to provide passwords for his three seized mobile phones to the police, hiding the crime multiple times. Kim, who initially denied drunk driving, admitted to the crime ten days after the accident, after completing his scheduled concert.

On the 10th, Kim Ho-jung's first trial was held. He was charged with dangerous driving causing injury and hit-and-run causing injury under the Special Act, failure to take action after an accident under the Road Traffic Act, and aiding the escape of a criminal. At the time, Kim's side stated, "We have not yet been able to review or copy the records. We will state our position regarding the charges at the next hearing." The second trial is scheduled for August 19.

The police referred Kim to the prosecution including the drunk driving charge, but it was excluded at the indictment stage. The prosecution judged that it was difficult to confirm the blood alcohol level based solely on reverse calculation. As the so-called "mixing drinks" method, where suspects drink more alcohol after an accident to evade drunk driving charges, became known, the political sphere is discussing the "Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act" to impose heavier penalties for such cases.