The latest on singer Kim Ho-joong, who is serving a sentence on charges of drunk driving and hit-and-run, has been released.
Song Young-gil, leader of the Pine Tree Party, posted on his social media on the 3rd, "The Chuseok holiday begins. I bring news about singer Kim Ho-joong," and released three handwritten letters from Kim Ho-joong.
Song said, "When I was detained at Seoul Detention Center, I had the connection of living in the same housing unit with Kim Ho-joong. Though our circumstances were different, the conversations and small acts of consideration shared in a confined space during the hardest and most difficult times brought great comfort to each other," and added, "I recently visited Kim Ho-joong, who had been transferred to Yeoju Somang Prison with his wife. His face looked unusually clear."
He continued, "Although he is now paying for his sins and receiving heavy social criticism for past mistakes, I felt that even in suffering he is walking a path of repentance, reflection and resolve," and added, "A few days later, Kim Ho-joong sent a sincere handwritten letter. He confessed that his wrongdoing weighed heavily on his heart, but even in that darkness he showed a firm will to bloom again."
In the handwritten letter released together, Kim Ho-joong wrote, "The trial is still ongoing, but rather than trying to erase it from memory, I remember feeling grateful to be alive and to be breathing day by day, every moment. I also empathize with those words and will try to apply them to my life."
He added, "I will remember the advice given today and, though my body is confined, I will humbly reflect every single day without fail and fill Kim Ho-joong's time," and vowed, "Everything is my fault. I feel it again today. Here I will empty myself more of life's pride, and like David, I will carve and carve again so that I, Kim Ho-joong, will not fall into the same place with the same mistake."
Finally he said, "Although this is a very upsetting and painful time, sharing together and living together makes today the day I understand why I was born and exist in this world."
Meanwhile, on May 9 last year, Kim Ho-joong was indicted for crashing into a taxi and fleeing while driving under the influence on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul. At the time his manager surrendered in his place, but Kim Ho-joong appeared at the police station 17 hours later and admitted to driving. Prosecutors arrested and indicted Kim Ho-joong on charges including aggravated injury by dangerous driving and injury by fleeing under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, failure to take measures after an accident under the Road Traffic Act, and instigation of concealment of a criminal. Blood alcohol concentration was not measured, so drunk driving charges were not included, but the court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, saying he was in a state of impaired judgment and driving ability due to significant alcohol consumption. Kim Ho-joong appealed, but the sentence was upheld in the second trial, and his sentence was finalized when he abandoned an appeal to the Supreme Court in May. Recently, Kim Ho-joong was transferred to Somang Prison, a private prison. If he serves his full term, he is scheduled to be released in Nov. 2026.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS
[OSEN]