'Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run' Kim Ho-jung, Detention Hearing on 24th... Performance Disruption Inevitable

The decision on whether to detain singer Kim Ho-jung (33), who is accused of 'hit-and-run while intoxicated,' will be made as early as the 24th.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, Shin Young-hee, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will hold a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant substantive examination) around noon on the 24th for Kim, who is accused of dangerous driving causing injury and hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The warrant hearings for Lee Kwang-deuk, CEO of Kim's agency Saenggak Entertainment, who is accused of aiding the escape of a criminal, and Jeon (last name), the head of the headquarters accused of evidence tampering, will be held on the same day at approximately 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., respectively.

On the 9th, around 11:40 p.m., Kim drove under the influence and caused an accident by colliding with a taxi on the opposite side of a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, then fled the scene.

After the accident, CEO Lee instructed Kim's manager to falsely confess, and Head Jeon removed the memory card from Kim's vehicle's black box.

With the warrant substantive examination scheduled for the 24th, disruptions to Kim's upcoming performance schedule have become inevitable. He is scheduled to perform in the 'World Union Orchestra Super Classic: Kim Ho-jung & Primadonna' (hereafter Super Classic) on the 23rd and 24th.

Since the examination is generally conducted with the suspect in custody, the performance on the 24th is practically impossible.

Previously, Kim's side announced their intention to proceed with the Super Classic performance despite the police's request for an arrest warrant. Accordingly, there is a possibility that Kim's side will request the court to postpone the examination schedule.

In an official statement, Saenggak Entertainment said, "Kim Ho-jung plans to suspend all activities and take a time of self-reflection after the performances on the 23rd and 24th," adding, "Kim Ho-jung and agency officials will fully cooperate with all police investigations and accept any punishment resulting from the outcome."