Actor Choi Jin-hyuk Caught Drinking at Illegal Entertainment Bar... Police Investigation Underway

Photo by Choi Jinhyeok SNS

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] Actor Choi Jin-hyuk (real name Kim Tae-ho) was booked by the police for violating gathering restriction measures by having a drinking party at a nightlife establishment.

According to the police on the 8th, Choi was booked on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act after staying at a nightlife establishment in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around 8:20 PM on the 6th.

The nightlife establishment Choi visited is subject to gathering restriction measures under the Level 4 social distancing rules applied in the Seoul area, where such entertainment facilities are completely prohibited from operating.

At the time, it was reported that 51 people, including Choi, customers, and hostesses at the establishment, were collectively caught by the police.

Choi’s agency, JTree Creative, explained, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, even having a drinking party visible to outsiders before 10 PM was something we were cautious about, so we quietly looked for a place to talk and ended up going to a place recommended by an acquaintance." They added, "We did not realize that the recommended bar was operating illegally." They further stated, "We reflect on this and will never repeat such a mistake again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.