Singer Nam Tae-hyun has once again betrayed the public's trust. Following the drug use controversy, the music activities and return stage he has cautiously prepared, along with the planned release of a new song today, May 9, have effectively become a pipe dream.
Nam Tae-hyun was preparing for an official stage to meet fans through 'K-Pop Week in Hongdae' on the 6th. This stage was particularly noteworthy as it would be his first official activity since being sentenced to probation in 2022 for drug use allegations. In addition, the new song 'RAIN' is set to be released on the 9th, and he expressed his determination by stating, "I will return to my place now."
However, all these commitments were shattered by a single drunk driving incident. The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul reported that they booked Nam Tae-hyun on the morning of the 27th, around 4:10 a.m., for a traffic accident in which he crashed into a guardrail near Dongjak Bridge on the Gangbyeon Expressway. His blood alcohol concentration was over 0.08%, the level that leads to license cancellation.
Even more shocking is the fact that this is his second drunk driving incident. Nam Tae-hyun was involved in a traffic accident with a taxi while driving under the influence in 2023 in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, and at that time, his blood alcohol concentration was 0.114%, resulting in a fine of 6 million won. After receiving a one-year prison sentence and two years of probation for drug use allegations, he had been reflecting and had expressed his desire to overcome his struggles, stating, "I will repay with music from now on," and began preparing for a new album. In fact, he cautiously resumed his activities in January by releasing the new song 'At the End of the Night.'
Ahead of his return stage, he declared on social media, "As an artist who loves music, I will return. I will show my sincere self to those who come to the performance," but due to this incident, the return itself has become meaningless.
Netizens are reacting by saying, "At this point, he doesn't even deserve to discuss a return," "He has squandered repeated opportunities," and "Now it's time to show through actions rather than words, yet he's disappointed again." On the other hand, some responses suggest waiting to see what position Nam Tae-hyun will convey.
Declaring his return while shouting, "I will live a better life," Nam Tae-hyun has once again shattered his promises to himself and the trust of his fans. Now, with the announcement of a new song, a stage return, and his determination to overcome, all hopes seem to have vanished, and there are even discussions about the possibility of his 'withdrawal from the entertainment industry,' drawing attention to the outcome.
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