Singer Kim Ho-joong has been booked on charges of hit-and-run, with suspicion of drunk driving and driver-switching not easily settling down. Nevertheless, Kim Ho-joong pressed on with his concert, and fans responded with unwavering faith.

Kim Ho-joong is suspected of having fled after a collision with a taxi while changing lanes in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, around 11:40 p.m. on the 9th. After the incident, Kim Ho-joong's manager visited the police station and confessed to driving Kim Ho-joong's vehicle, but after 17 hours of police questioning, Kim Ho-joong admitted that he was indeed the driver after intense questioning.

As a result, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul has booked Kim Ho-joong on charges of violation of the Road Traffic Act for failing to assist after the accident. Because Kim Ho-joong only appeared at the police station 17 hours after the accident, the results of the breathalyzer test came back negative, but the police are currently investigating the possibility of drunk driving, and are reviewing whether to apply charges such as aiding and abetting.

In response, Lee Kwang-deuk, the representative of Kim Ho-joong's agency, stated on the 16th, "On the 9th, Kim Ho-joong visited a entertainment venue to greet a group of relatives and agency representatives including myself, Lee Kwang-deuk. At that time, Kim Ho-joong was preparing for the Goyang concert and did not consume any alcohol. Kim Ho-joong left early, and after returning home, an accident occurred due to driving skill issues while he was moving for personal reasons, and it seems he made a poor judgment due to severe panic at the time."

He continued, "Another manager who arrived on the scene first removed the memory card based on their judgment. I, as the agency representative, asked the manager who is known for confessing to take Kim Ho-joong's clothes and change into them to handle the situation instead" and emphasized, "All of this happened because I was trying to overly protect Kim Ho-joong as his representative and cousin."

According to the police, the Gangnam Police Station received a urine analysis result from the National Forensic Service on the 17th indicating that Kim Ho-joong was likely to have consumed alcohol before the accident. The National Forensic Service stated, "Considering that about 20 hours elapsed from the time of the accident to the urine collection, alcohol metabolites exceeding the judgment criteria were detected, indicating that there was likely alcohol consumption before the accident."

Police have determined that before the accident on the afternoon of the 9th, Kim Ho-joong visited a restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, with his group, where they consumed a meal with alcoholic beverages. It is known that they ordered about five bottles of soju and three bottles of soft drinks to share. Kim Ho-joong and his group left after about one and a half hours and stopped by a high-end entertainment venue in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, which was a 7 to 8-minute drive away.

At the entertainment venue, Kim Ho-joong left around 10:50 p.m. and called a chauffeur to return home in Gangnam District, after which he drove his own vehicle and caused the problematic accident. Following the accident, he moved to a hotel in Guri City, Gyeonggi Province, and appeared at the police station 17 hours later. As a result, police investigations are proceeding, expanding to include charges of hit-and-run, evidence destruction, aiding and abetting, and drunk driving.

Ultimately, Kim Ho-joong confessed. On the 19th, he said, "I am sorry. I am Kim Ho-joong. I want to sincerely apologize for the hurt and disappointment my momentary bad judgment has caused to many people. I did drive under the influence. I regret it deeply and am reflecting. I will faithfully participate in the police investigation. Once again, I bow my head in apology" and finally admitted to the drunk driving.

Despite being in the worst crisis since his debut, Kim Ho-joong continued with the scheduled nationwide tour 'Tvarotti Classic Arena Tour 2024' in Changwon, Gyeongnam, on the 18th-19th. This was the first time he appeared before the public since the hit-and-run controversy erupted on the 14th. Fans who supported Kim Ho-joong after the incident attended the concert without fail.

Standing before fans, Kim Ho-joong said, "The first word that comes to mind is 'regret'" and noted, "All truths will be revealed." He continued, "I feel sorry and regretful due to this incident. It seems it will be an unsolvable homework" but added, "There is a Kim Ho-joong outside and a Kim Ho-joong on stage, and I will show you the Kim Ho-joong on stage." He also added his sentiments, stating, "I will take on all sins and wounds."

Nevertheless, the determination of the fans is remarkable. Phrases like, “Always with unwavering love,” “We are always here,” “Hang in there, star, we miss you,” “All I can give you is my heart,” “You are precious just by existing,” “Please focus on the concert,” “This too shall pass,” “We are family,” “Together forever,” “In the end, it’s you” are filled with the fans' supportive voices in the fan cafe.

Is there a sense of belief? Kim Ho-joong admitted to drunk driving and told his fans, "I am truly sorry for hurting the pride of our Aris family with this incident" and said, "What good is it for a guilty person to speak at length? After the investigation concludes and all results come out, I will return to this place. It seems the only thing I can do to not betray the dreams of my family is to live hard, so it seems I will have to do so," which drew displeasure.

However, fans protect Kim Ho-joong with blind support, expressing sentiments such as, “I’m glad you honestly spoke up now,” “I hope you become a strong mountain,” “Let’s meet again with a more handsome appearance. Please don't make the waiting time too long,” “Regardless of the outcome, we are family,” “I won’t let go of my family’s hand,” “I will wait until you come home,” “A momentary mistake can happen to anyone.”

For this reason, although Kim Ho-joong's guilt has not yet been confirmed, the company and fans that blindly support him are bound to face criticism. Kim Ho-joong's momentary wrong decision has left wounds for many.

[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by the agency

[OSEN = Reporter Park So-young]