'3 Years and 6 Months Sentence' Kim Ho-jung, Detention Period Extended to 12 Months...First Trial Verdict Next Month

Law, Decision to Renew Kim Ho-jung's Detention Period
Maximum Detention Period Until December
Bail Application Not Yet Decided

Singer Kim Ho-jung, accused of hit-and-run under the influence. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Trot singer Kim Ho-jung (33) has been brought to trial on charges of fleeing the scene after causing a drunk driving accident, and it has been revealed that his detention period has been extended until December.

According to the court on the 17th, Judge Choi Min-hye of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 decided on the 11th to renew Kim Ho-jung's detention period on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury). The detention periods of Lee Kwang-deuk, the agency representative, and former director Jeon, who were also indicted on charges including aiding the escape of a criminal, were also extended by two months.

Under the Criminal Procedure Act, a defendant in pretrial detention can be held for up to six months in the first trial stage, renewed every two months. Accordingly, the court is presumed to have extended the detention period in line with the progress of the trial. Therefore, Kim Ho-jung's maximum detention period is until December, and he is expected to remain in custody until the first trial verdict on the 13th of next month. Earlier, Kim Ho-jung's side applied for bail citing worsening ankle pain. Judge Choi has not yet made a decision on this application.

On May 9th, around 11:40 p.m., Kim Ho-jung drove under the influence on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crossing the center line. He collided with a taxi on the opposite side of the road and fled the scene. He was detained on charges of having his manager turn himself in. Initially, Kim Ho-jung denied drunk driving, but after CCTV footage and other evidence surfaced, he admitted to the crime ten days after the accident, saying, "I sincerely apologize for causing pain and disappointment to many people due to a moment of poor judgment." A representative of his agency also attempted to destroy evidence by removing the black box storage device from the accident vehicle but later admitted to the drunk driving, saying, "We were desperate to hide the situation. I apologize for not acting truthfully." The prosecution requested a prison sentence of three years and six months at the sentencing hearing on the 30th of last month, stating, "Considering the severity of the negligence in the crime and the defendants' organized obstruction of justice, which caused public outrage."