Fans of Trot Singer Kim Ho-joong Petition for Leniency After Conviction

Trot singer Kim Ho-joong (김호중), who was sentenced to prison for causing a drunk driving accident and fleeing the scene, has sparked a petition from his fans urging KBS to show leniency. In response, KBS stated, "We respect the judicial process and its decisions." On June 19, KBS acknowledged that Kim had undergone both first and second trials, and that his appeal to the Supreme Court had been withdrawn, thus finalizing the appellate court's decision.

The petition, which garnered over 1,000 signatures within a month, was posted on KBS's viewer petition board on May 14. KBS typically responds to petitions that receive 1,000 signatures within 30 days. The fan club expressed that while Kim did cause social controversy, they believe his side of the story was not adequately represented in court, and they requested that the broadcasting company exercise compassion.

The fan club stated, "It is natural to face consequences for wrongdoing, but we believe that the spirit of the law is to guide those who repent and wish to reintegrate into society. We ask that you view Kim Ho-joong with a more forgiving perspective."

Regarding allegations that Kim attempted to evade a breathalyzer test by consuming more alcohol after the accident, the fan club argued that this issue was minimally addressed during police and prosecution investigations, and Kim has never admitted to such actions. They expressed hope for the truth to be revealed and reassessed in the future.

Following Kim's arrest in May 2022 for a hit-and-run incident involving drunk driving, KBS imposed a temporary suspension on his appearances. The recent response from KBS suggests that this suspension will remain in effect following the court's ruling.

On May 9, 2022, Kim was charged after driving under the influence and colliding with a taxi in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam, then fleeing the scene. He allegedly had his agency staff turn themselves in on his behalf and failed to provide police with the passwords to three of his confiscated phones, raising suspicions of attempting to conceal his actions.

The first trial court stated, "Kim caused both personal and property damage by driving under the influence and irresponsibly fleeing the scene, leading to confusion in the initial investigation and wasting police resources," sentencing him to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The appellate court upheld this decision, acknowledging that Kim's judgment and attention were significantly impaired due to alcohol.

Although Kim initially appealed the verdict, he withdrew his appeal on May 19, finalizing his sentence.