Kim Ho Joong has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim Ho Joong to two years and six months in prison at his first trial held on November 13th. He faced charges of drunk driving and hit-and-run.
The CEO of the singer’s agency, who was also indicted on charges of aiding in obstruction of justice and destroying evidence, received a sentence of two years in prison. The division director of the agency was sentenced to one year and six months, and Kim’s manager received a one-year sentence with a two-year probation period.
The court stated, “Kim Ho Joong fled the scene after crashing with a taxi driven by the victim, causing both personal and property damage while driving under the influence. Furthermore, he instructed his manager and others to falsely confess to the police on his behalf, causing confusion in the initial investigation and wasting police resources.”
The court continued, “It’s questionable whether Kim feels any remorse for his wrongdoing. Despite CCTV footage clearly showing him stumbling under the influence, he has given absurd explanations and denied his actions. His conduct following the incident also raises concerns.”
The court explained its reasoning behind the sentencing, noting, “The defendants ultimately admitted to their crimes and accepted responsibility. Kim reached a settlement with the victim, paying 60 million won, and this was a first offense for everyone involved.”
After announcing the sentence, Kim reportedly dropped his head and sighed quietly.
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