Embattled Korean singer Kim Ho-joong was arrested on May 24 over his hit-and-run and drunk driving case.
Kim Ho-joong, 32, a tenor and trot artist, is facing charges for an incident that happened on May 9 in Gangnam, Seoul.
CCTV footage showed a vehicle hitting a taxi and speeding off. Kim Ho-joong initially denied that he was driving the vehicle but later admitted it.
Korean singer Kim Ho-joong (Think Entertainment)
After hitting the taxi, Kim Ho-joong did not get out of his vehicle and sped off. His manager wore Kim Ho-joong’s clothes and appeared at the police station to falsely say that he was the driver of the vehicle. The manager also removed the black box memory card of Kim Ho-joong’s vehicle.
After completing his concert on May 19, Kim Ho-joong admitted that he drank alcohol and drove the vehicle.
The prosecution requested a court to issue a warrant of arrest against Kim Ho-joong.
On May 24, Chief Judge Shin Young-hee of the Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant of arrest against Kim Ho-joong on the concern that “there is risk of destroying evidence,” Korean media reported.
Korean singer Kim Ho-joong with his hands tied with a rope is escorted by the police at the Seoul Central District Court on May 24 (Screenshot from MBC News video)
CCTV footage showing Kim Ho-joong's car hitting a taxi in Gangnam, Seoul on May 9 (Screenshot from MBC News video)
Warrants of arrest were also issued against Lee Gwang-deuk, CEO of Think Entertainment, the singer’s agency, and Jeon Mo, the head of the agency, for the same reason.
Lee Gwang-deuk allegedly ordered a manager to falsely surrender, telling the police that he drove the car.
Kim Ho-joong and people at his agency are accused of systematically concealing the incident.
Previously, the prosecution said, “This case is a systematic and planned act of destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice by the criminal’s escape, and the case is serious and there is a great concern about the destruction of evidence.”
After the hit-and-run accident, Kim Ho-joong stayed in a hotel and only showed up at the police station after 17 hours. He tested negative in a breathalyzer test but the National Forensic Service found that Kim Ho-joong must have been drinking before the accident through alcohol metabolite analysis.
Kim Ho-joong, who earlier denied drunk driving, admitted to drunk driving on May 19.
“I would like to express my sincere apology for causing hurt and disappointment to many people due to my momentary wrong judgment. I did drink and drive. I greatly regret and reflect on this. I will faithfully participate in the police investigation. I once again bow my head in apology,” he said in a statement released through his agency.
He appeared in front of the Seoul Central District Court building at around 11 a.m. KST on May 24 to attend the detention examination.
“I’m sorry,” he told the media.
After the hearing, Kim Ho-joong was escorted by the police with a rope tied to his hands. He was taken to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station detention center.