Kim Ho-joong Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months in Prison in Appeal for Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run

Singer Kim Ho-joong (33) received the same prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months in his appeal following his sentencing for a drunk driving hit-and-run in the first trial.

The court maintained the prison sentence, considering that Kim threatened the lives of others through reckless driving at the time of the accident and then failed to take any actions afterward.

On the 25th, the 5-3 Criminal Appeal Division of the Seoul Central District Court held a ruling session for Kim Ho-joong and three others who were indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bodily injury by dangerous driving), and sentenced Kim to the same prison term as in the first trial.

It was investigated that Kim left the scene without providing any assistance immediately after the accident, which was deemed seriously in court.

Court: "Prioritized Evading Responsibility Over Victim Protection"

The court stated, "The defendant caused an accident while driving under the influence and fled the scene. This act is a behavior to evade responsibility rather than providing assistance to the victim, and the nature of the crime is not light at all."

Furthermore, it added, "Despite the victim suffering not only physical shock but also significant psychological pain due to the accident, the defendant did not properly express genuine apologies or remorse."

In the appeal, Kim Ho-joong submitted around 130 pages of letters of remorse, appealing for leniency, but the court did not accept them.

Loved by the Public… Steps Towards Finalizing Prison Sentence

Kim Ho-joong gained public recognition through shows like 'Mr. Trot' and has been actively participating in broadcast activities, but this incident has severely impacted his image. Particularly, following the traffic accident, he faced public backlash for irresponsible responses and repeated excuses.

If the sentence is upheld, Kim will have to continue serving his time in prison, and a return to the entertainment industry is expected to be quite difficult for a considerable period. A legal expert commented, "Since the prison sentence was maintained in the appeal, the likelihood of a change in the sentence in the Supreme Court (third trial) is low."

Image sources: Kim Ho-joong / News1, Kim Ho-joong / News1, CCTV footage capture at the time of the accident / SBS '8 News'