Kim Hojung's Side States at First Appeal Trial, "If It Was Drinking, It Would Have Been Strong Liquor"

"If it had been the 'Sultagi method,' he would have drunk strong liquor"
"He only aided according to the agency's decision"
"Many statements claim he was not completely intoxicated"

Trot singer Kim Ho-jung, who was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the first trial for a hit-and-run accident under the influence of alcohol, claimed that he did not use the so-called 'sultagi method,' which involves deliberately drinking more alcohol after the accident to interfere with the measurement of blood alcohol concentration.

On the 12th, Kim Ho-jung's lawyer explained at the first appeal trial held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 5-3 (Presiding Judges Kim Ji-sun, So Byung-jin, Kim Yong-jung), "The sultagi method has a typical pattern of drinking strong liquor in situations where alcohol measurement is expected, making accurate measurement impossible," adding, "However, the defendant already knew that his manager would surrender on his behalf and did not know that he himself would go to the police for alcohol measurement." He continued, "If it had been sultagi, he would have drunk strong liquor instead of canned beer," and said, "It is hard to accept that a healthy man in his 30s would choose such alcohol to raise his blood alcohol concentration."

Trot singer Kim Ho-jung. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The lawyer argued regarding the charge that Kim Ho-jung made his manager surrender falsely, "He only acted to the extent of aiding and abetting according to decisions made by the head of the agency and the manager, and did not actively decide or lead this situation." Regarding the charge of dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, he said, "There are many statements that it is difficult to see him as being so intoxicated that normal driving was impossible," and added, "It cannot be concluded that Kim Ho-jung was unable to drive normally due to intoxication."

Earlier, on May 9 last year, Kim Ho-jung drove a car under the influence of alcohol on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, hit a taxi on the opposite side of the road, and fled. Immediately after the accident, he denied drunk driving by having his manager surrender on his behalf, but after CCTV footage and other circumstances surfaced, he admitted to the crime ten days after the accident. A representative of the agency also attempted to destroy evidence by removing the black box storage device from the accident vehicle but later admitted the wrongdoing. At that time, Kim Ho-jung was suspected of using the sultagi method, but since the blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident could not be clearly identified, he was not prosecuted for drunk driving.

In November last year, the first trial court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, stating, "Despite causing personal and property damage by colliding with a taxi driven by the victim while driving under the influence, he irresponsibly fled and further had his manager falsely surrender to the investigative authorities on his behalf." Kim Ho-jung's side appealed on the day of the sentence, and the prosecution also appealed, leading both sides to enter the second trial process.