Law Sentences Kim Ho-jung to 2 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment
"Questionable Whether He Felt Any Remorse"
'Kim Ho-jung Sorigil' Under Various Reviews by Gimcheon City
Trot singer Kim Ho-jung, accused of drunk hit-and-run, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. Yonhap News
Trot singer Kim Hojung was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for drunk driving and hit-and-run charges, drawing attention to the 'Kim Hojung Sorigil' in Gimcheon.
On the 13th, Gimcheon City is reportedly conducting internal discussions from various angles. A representative from Gimcheon City's Tourism Promotion Division told Yonhap News, "(Regarding the removal of Sorigil) internal discussions are underway," adding, "Since the final result has come out, we need to decide on the direction internally. Nothing has been decided yet," and refrained from further comment.
Another official from the same division told Money Today, "There has been no internal discussion about removal yet." The official further explained, "Kim Hojung Sorigil was not created independently but is connected to Yeonhwaji, a cherry blossom tourist spot famous in the area," adding, "It is difficult to consider Sorigil separately, so (removal) is a long-term issue." Additionally, the official said, "During the recent Gimbap Festival, about 1,000 tourists visited only Kim Hojung Sorigil," and added, "We plan to monitor public opinion and the results of the appeal trial going forward."
'Kim Hojung Sorigil' is a tourism-specialized street created in 2021, featuring photo zones, sculptures, and murals along approximately 100 meters connecting Kim Hojung's alma mater, Gimcheon Arts High School, and the cherry blossom attraction Yeonhwaji. About 200 million KRW was spent to create the street, and it is known that over 100,000 tourists visited last year alone. When Kimcheon City faced controversy over Kim Hojung's drunk driving hit-and-run incident in May, the city stated, "(Removal) is not being considered," and "We need to see the investigation situation."
Earlier, on May 9, Kim Hojung was accused of driving under the influence on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crossing the center line and hitting a taxi on the opposite side before fleeing the scene. It was also revealed that he instructed his manager to surrender on his behalf immediately after the accident. He consistently denied drunk driving, but after CCTV footage and other evidence surfaced, he admitted to the crime ten days after the accident.
On the 13th, Kim Hojung was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Choi Minhye of Criminal Division 26. The court stated, "It is questionable whether he felt any remorse as an adult, considering he fled to a motel and purchased beer before checking in," and judged, "Despite objective evidence from CCTV showing him staggering under the influence, he made implausible excuses and denied the charges, showing poor conduct after the crime."
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