Kim Ho-jung's side claims again, "I never drank alcohol."

Singer Kim Ho-jung (32), who was booked on suspicion of hit-and-run, is expected to be a key issue in the case whether he was drunk driving or whether he switched drivers. However, regarding the two issues, the agency stated, "I did not drink alcohol," and "I personally asked the manager to surrender on my behalf." If these claims turn out to be false, Kim Ho-joong's life in the entertainment industry will likely be difficult.

Kim Ho-joong continues to be suspected of drunk driving. As reports such as 'Kim Ho-joong admitted to drinking' and 'Kim Ho-joong called a substitute driver and stumbled' continued through some media outlets, Kim Ho-joong's agency, Saengkk Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as Saengkk), announced on the 16th and 17th, "Kim Ho-joong admitted to drinking." He claims again, “I did not drink it.” Saeng Saeng said, “Kim Ho-joong once again reveals that he only stopped by an entertainment bar to greet an acquaintance and that he did not drink alcohol. We express regret to Channel A for using subjective expressions such as ‘stumbling.’”

Regarding changing drivers, this is something Kim Ho-joong admitted to during the police investigation. A manager testified that he had driven the car, but Kim Ho-jung, who appeared at the police station 17 hours after the incident, admitted that he had driven the car when questioned by the police. A driver change occurred. What is important is whether Kim Ho-jung directly instigated this. In relation to this, some reports said that there was a recording of Kim Ho-joong calling his manager directly and saying, 'Please go to the police station instead,' but the agency explained, "This is a recording of the representative, not Kim Ho-joong." Thoughts CEO Lee Kwang-deuk claims, "I, as the representative of the agency, asked the manager, who is known to have surrendered, to steal Kim Ho-joong's clothes and change them to handle the work on his behalf."

The agency's employees, including CEO Lee Gwang-deuk, are suspected of systematically hiding Kim Ho-jung's accident. In fact, CEO Lee directly revealed that he had instigated the manager to 'embroider by proxy', and manager Kim Ho-jung, who appeared on the scene, also directly damaged the car's black box memory chip. In this case, it appears that charges of abetting a criminal to escape and fleeing a criminal could also be added.

My thoughts are completely focused on ‘saving Kim Ho-jung’. Agency officials' strategy is to ensure that Kim Ho-joong can continue his activities without problems even if he is legally responsible. This goal can be felt once again in the official statement issued on the afternoon of the 16th. The thought was, "Our company feels enormous responsibility for this Kim Ho-joong incident. We once again bow our heads in apology for causing social controversy due to our wrong judgment," and added, "CEO Lee Gwang-deuk and other staff members who caused the problem will be held legally responsible according to the results of the investigation. “Please refrain from making speculative reports about the artist.”

Meanwhile, Kim Ho-jung was booked on charges of running away and hit-and-run (failure to take action after an accident under the Road Traffic Act) after crossing the center line on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul at around 11:40 pm on the 9th and causing an accident by contacting a taxi on the opposite side. At 1:59 a.m. on the 10th, two hours after the accident, Kim Ho-jung's manager went to the police station and turned himself in, saying he was the driver, but it was quickly revealed that this was not true. At the same time, suspicions such as Kim Ho-jung's driver switching theory and drunk driving theory grew like a snowball.

In particular, Kim Ho-jung announced that he would continue the scheduled concert, rather than self-reflect even in this situation. It is expected that fans will be met at the indoor gymnasium of Changwon Sports Park in Gyeongsangnam-do on the 18th and 19th. The same concert will be held at the Gimcheon Indoor Stadium on June 1-2.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr