Former WINNER Member Nam Tae-hyun Faces Court Again Amid Controversies

Everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is how one moves forward. Former WINNER member Nam Tae-hyun finds himself back in court amid ongoing controversies.

According to legal sources on the 11th, Judge Heo Jun-seo of the Seoul Western District Court held the first trial for Nam Tae-hyun, who was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving) and other offenses. Nam Tae-hyun is accused of hitting a central divider while attempting to overtake a vehicle near Dongjak Bridge on Gangbyeonbuk-ro towards Ilsan at around 4:10 AM on April 27. His blood alcohol concentration was reportedly at the license cancellation level of 0.08%.

Due to this incident, Nam Tae-hyun was unable to perform at a comeback stage prepared by Yoon Hyung-bin. Yoon, the head of Yoonso Group, had planned a 'K-pop Week in Hongdae' concert in May and included Nam Tae-hyun as a guest performer. Yoon stated, "I was quite cautious because of Nam Tae-hyun's past controversies," but added, "He has been doing a lot of good deeds recently. I wanted to help him reflect on his past and return to the stage."

Nam Tae-hyun also shared on his social media, "It's been a long time since I've greeted you with news of a performance. Despite many events, as an artist who loves music and as a more mature person, I am trying to return to my place." However, just two days before the comeback stage, news of his drunk driving incident surfaced, leading to the cancellation of his appearance. This not only cost him the opportunity but also inconvenienced Yoon Hyung-bin, who had taken a risk to support him.

This is not the first time Nam Tae-hyun has been embroiled in legal issues. In January last year, he was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation for violating the Narcotics Control Act. In March 2023, he was fined 6 million won for a drunk driving accident during a drug investigation, occurring while he was still on probation for drug charges.

During the first trial, when asked about his occupation, Nam Tae-hyun replied, "I am currently an office worker." Nam Tae-hyun debuted with the group WINNER in 2014 but left after about two years. He later re-debuted with the four-member band South Club, showing his determination to continue as an artist. However, due to his past behavior, his name is often associated more with incidents than with music. The prevailing view is that it has become challenging for him to regain public trust and revive his career as a singer.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr