Prosecutors suspended indictment for trot singer Jeong Dong-won (18), who is accused of driving a car without a license as a minor.
The Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office said on the 8th that it issued a suspended indictment on the 6th for Jeong Dong-won, who is accused of violating the Road Traffic Act (unlicensed driving).
A suspended indictment is a type of non-prosecution disposition in which the facts are acknowledged, but the prosecutor decides not to send the case to trial after considering the circumstances and results of the offense.
Jeong Dong-won is accused of driving a car without a license in Hadong, South Gyeongsang, in 2023. The current Road Traffic Act allows the acquisition of a license from age 18 (16 for motorized bicycles). Born in 2007, Jeong Dong-won was not old enough then to obtain a driver's license.
Earlier, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul sent the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, determining that Jeong Dong-won's unlicensed driving charge was substantiated. The case was later transferred to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office, taking into account Jeong Dong-won's residence and other factors.
Jeong Dong-won's unlicensed driving allegation came to light in March during the arrest of a group of extortionists. After obtaining Jeong Dong-won's mobile phone, the group threatened, saying, "If you don't pay 500 million won, we will leak your private life." Following a complaint by his agency, all three members of the extortion ring were arrested, and Jeong Dong-won was questioned by police as a victim. At that time, a video on the seized phone reportedly showed Jeong Dong-won driving a truck without a license.
Regarding this, Jeong Dong-won's agency, Showplay Entertainment, said at the time, "We bow our heads and apologize for the unfortunate incident involving Jeong Dong-won." Jeong Dong-won's legal representative also said, "Jeong Dong-won drove just once out of curiosity," and "He is deeply reflecting and cooperating faithfully with the investigation."
Meanwhile, Jeong Dong-won was caught riding a motorcycle on an expressway in March last year. Prosecutors also suspended indictment at that time, considering that Jeong Dong-won was a minor and a first-time offender.
Jeong Dong-won gained popularity as a high school trot singer after appearing on the TV CHOSUN music competition program "Mr. Trot" in 2020. As a singer, he also appeared on variety shows such as "Call Center of Love" and "Taste of Wife."