Pine Tree Party leader Song Young-gil shared news about singer Kim Ho-joong, who is incarcerated.
Song Young-gil recently wrote on his Facebook, "As the holiday stretch approaches ten days, I think more of singer Kim Ho-joong, who has been detained for over a year and four months," adding, "I have a connection from living in the same ward as Kim Ho-joong when he was held at Seoul Detention Center. Although our situations were different, the conversations and small acts of consideration we shared in that confined space during the most difficult times provided great comfort to each other."
He went on to say he and his wife recently visited Kim Ho-joong, who had been transferred to Yeoju Somang Prison, adding, "His face looked unusually clear," and said he encouraged him, saying, "I hope this trial becomes a time that allows Kim Ho-joong to experience deeper pain and love, hone his inner strength, and become a world-class singer through a season of refining."
On May 9 last year, Kim Ho-joong was brought to trial on charges of driving under the influence, colliding with a taxi on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, and fleeing the scene. At that time his manager surrendered in his stead, but Kim Ho-joong appeared at the police station 17 hours later and admitted he had been driving.
Prosecutors indicted Kim Ho-joong on charges including dangerous driving causing injury and fleeing the scene under the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Crimes, failure to take measures after an accident under the Road Traffic Act, and aiding the escape of a criminal. Drinking and driving charges were not included because his blood alcohol concentration was not measured, but the court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, saying he was judged to have been in a state of impaired judgment and reaction due to a considerable amount of alcohol.
Kim Ho-joong appealed, but the sentence was upheld in the second trial, and his sentence became final when he withdrew his appeal to the Supreme Court in May. He was recently transferred to the private Somang Prison; if he serves his full term, he is scheduled for release in Nov. 2026.
In a handwritten letter made public by Song Young-gil, Kim wrote, "Although my body is confined, I will humbly fill my days with reflection without fail," and vowed, "Everything is my fault. I feel it again today. Here I will empty more of life's pride, and like David, I will cut away and cut again so that I will not fall into the same place with the same mistake."
The following is the full text of Song Young-gil's post.
[The Chuseok holiday begins. News about singer Kim Ho-joong.]
The Chuseok holiday is beginning. The hardest thing about prison life is the holidays. During the holiday period, exercise, visits, letters and meetings with lawyers are all suspended. You cannot move a single step inside the locked room. As the holiday stretch approaches ten days, I think more of singer Kim Ho-joong, who has been detained for over a year and four months.
I have a connection from living in the same ward as Kim Ho-joong when he was held at Seoul Detention Center. Although our situations were different, the conversations and small acts of consideration we shared in that confined space during the most difficult times provided great comfort to each other.
A few days ago I visited Kim Ho-joong, who had been transferred to Yeoju Somang Prison with his wife. His face looked unusually clear. I quoted Mencius. I encouraged him, saying I hoped this trial would allow Kim Ho-joong to experience deeper pain and love, hone his inner strength, and become a world-class singer through a season of refining.
The warmth of a hand extended in hard times resonates even more. I wanted to offer him a little courage and hope. Though he now pays the price for past mistakes amid heavy social criticism, I felt he was walking a path of repentance, reflection and resolve even in his suffering.
A few days later, Kim Ho-joong sent a sincere handwritten letter. He confessed that the weight of his wrongdoing had settled heavily on his heart, but even in that darkness he showed a firm will to bloom again. The phrase "small choices make big changes" contained a meaning of reflection and a fresh start, and his confession that the brief visit was a light that helped him endure a long winter carried gratitude for me and my wife.
I read his sincerity in that letter. That sincerity was fragile and trembling, like the first flower bud breaking through ice at the end of a long winter. Wrongdoing cannot be erased, but I believe genuine repentance and a heart toward a new start should be respected. So I do not want to ignore that small trembling but to warmly embrace it.
Reading the letter warmed a corner of my heart, and I felt a small sense of reward and pride.
Chuseok is coming. I wish everyone laughter and peace. While driving home, please listen to the overture to Cavalleria Rusticana that Kim Ho-joong recommended.
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