Prosecution Requests 3 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment for Kim Ho-jung in 2nd Trial for Drunk Hit-and-Run

Sentencing set for April 25... 2 years and 6 months in prison in first trial
Kim Ho-jung appeals for leniency: "I will live a different life from before"

The prosecution has requested a prison sentence of 3 years and 6 months in the second trial for trot singer Kim Ho-jung, who was indicted for a 'drunk hit-and-run' accident. This is the same sentence as in the first trial.

Singer Kim Ho-jung, who is accused of drunk hit-and-run, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 24th for a warrant hearing (pre-arrest suspect interrogation). Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

At the appellate trial held on the 19th at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 5-3 (Presiding Judges Kim Ji-sun, So Byung-jin, Kim Yong-jung), the prosecution asked the court to issue this sentence. Previously, the first trial court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

Kim Ho-jung’s defense attorney requested in the final argument that the first trial’s sentence was excessively harsh and asked the court to consider that Kim Ho-jung has no prior criminal record. He stated, "The defendant did not use the 'sooltaki method' (a method of obstructing blood alcohol concentration measurement by drinking alcohol after the accident)," and added, "He has been excessively misunderstood and should not face excessive punishment."

In his final statement, Kim Ho-jung said, "While incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center, I have thoroughly reflected on my mistakes and sincerely tried to repent," and added, "The crime I committed will never be erased from my life, but I will use this incident as a turning point to cultivate a new life different from before."

Earlier, on May 9 last year, at around 11:44 p.m., Kim Ho-jung was arrested and indicted for driving under the influence, crossing the center line, colliding with a taxi on the opposite side of the road on Apgujeong-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and fleeing the scene, then having his manager surrender on his behalf.

Kim Ho-jung initially denied drunk driving but admitted to the crime ten days after the accident. The police applied drunk driving charges and referred Kim Ho-jung to the prosecution, but the charge was excluded at the indictment stage. The prosecution judged that it was difficult to confirm the blood alcohol level based solely on back-calculation.

In the first trial on November last year, the 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 the scene and further had his manager and others falsely surrender to the investigative authorities on his behalf." Both sides appealed the first trial verdict, leading to the appellate trial, where the so-called 'sooltaki' suspicion?intentionally drinking more alcohol after the accident to avoid alcohol testing?became a key issue.

The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on the 25th of next month.