"'Kim Hojung Prevention Act' Name Is Human Rights Violation"…Kim Hojung Fandom Backlash

Kim Ho-joong Fandom Sends Protest to Media Outlets
"Use Legal Terms, Not 'Kim Ho-joong Prevention Act'"
Road Traffic Act Amended to Prevent 'Sultagi' Method

Trot singer Kim Ho-jung was sentenced to prison for charges of drunk driving and hit-and-run. Photo by Yonhap News

The fandom of trot singer Kim Ho-jung, who was sentenced to prison for hit-and-run while driving under the influence, has shown resistance to the naming of the 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act.'

On the 17th, Kim Ho-jung's fans sent protest messages to some media outlets, stating, "Unofficially associating a specific individual's name with a bill is highly likely to infringe on that person's honor and human rights," and added, "This can result in unnecessarily stigmatizing the individual, unrelated to the original legal application." They continued, "The bill passed by the National Assembly has a clear title and purpose," and pointed out, "The media's duty in conveying this to the public is to maintain accuracy and objectivity. Using sensational expressions instead of the official title causes public misunderstanding and obscures the intent of the law."

Furthermore, they demanded ▲the use of the fair legal title instead of 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act' when writing articles ▲adherence to journalistic ethics that do not damage an individual's honor and human rights ▲writing dignified articles that can earn public trust ▲immediate removal of Kim Ho-jung's name and photos, correction reports, and official apologies for photo misuse.

Earlier, in May, Kim Ho-jung drove under the influence on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crossed the center line, collided with a taxi on the opposite lane, and fled the scene. Immediately after the accident, he had his manager turn himself in on his behalf. Kim Ho-jung, who had consistently denied drunk driving, admitted to the crime ten days later after circumstances such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage surfaced. A representative of his agency also attempted to destroy evidence by removing the black box storage device from the accident vehicle but later admitted the wrongdoing. Kim Ho-jung was also suspected of using the so-called 'sultagi' method, deliberately drinking more alcohol to avoid punishment for drunk driving.

In response, the National Assembly held a plenary session on the 14th and passed a partial amendment to the Road Traffic Act. The bill prohibits acts that can affect blood alcohol concentration, such as drinking alcohol after driving, if there is reasonable cause to believe the person was intoxicated. Violators may face imprisonment from one to five years or a fine ranging from 5 million to 20 million won.

Meanwhile, the first trial court sentenced Kim Ho-jung to two years and six months in prison and handed a two-year prison sentence to Lee Kwang-deuk, former CEO of Saenggak Entertainment (now Art M&C), who was indicted for aiding the escape of a criminal, and one year and six months to former director Jeon. The court stated, "The overall attitude, such as fleeing to a motel after the accident and purchasing beer before checking in, raises doubts about whether they felt any remorse as adults for their wrongdoing," and judged, "Despite objective evidence from CCTV footage showing staggering due to alcohol influence, they denied the charges with implausible excuses, and the circumstances after the crime were also poor." It was reported that Kim Ho-jung's side immediately filed an appeal after the sentencing.