Kim Ho-joong Admits to Drunk Driving Amid Controversy

Singer Kim Ho-joong (김호중) has finally confessed to allegations of drunk driving after a series of ongoing suspicions. Despite this admission, his fans continue to show unwavering support, raising eyebrows among observers.

On May 19, Kim's agency, Think Entertainment (생각엔터테인먼트), issued a public apology, stating, "We sincerely apologize for the social controversy caused by our artist Kim Ho-joong and our poor judgment. From the beginning, we have been too focused on hiding the situation. We also sincerely apologize for not acting truthfully."

A representative added, "Kim Ho-joong voluntarily reported to the police, acknowledging the facts regarding the drunk driving incident and will cooperate fully with the investigation. Ultimately, we made an irreversible mistake in our misguided attempt to protect our artist. We apologize once again."

Kim Ho-joong himself acknowledged his wrongdoing, saying, "I want to sincerely apologize for the pain and disappointment my momentary poor judgment has caused many people. I did drive under the influence. I deeply regret and reflect on my actions. I will cooperate sincerely with the police investigation. I apologize once again."

The incident occurred on May 9 at around 11:40 PM in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, where Kim was involved in a collision with a taxi while changing lanes and subsequently fled the scene. Following the accident, his manager reported to the police, claiming he was driving Kim's vehicle. However, after 17 hours of questioning, Kim admitted to being the driver.

This led to growing suspicions regarding Kim's drunk driving and allegations of switching drivers. Despite emerging circumstantial evidence, the agency initially claimed, "Kim Ho-joong did not drink as he was preparing for a concert in Goyang," and suggested that he made a poor decision due to severe panic during the incident. They also stated that the situation arose from an overprotective stance taken by a relative acting as his representative.

However, these claims were proven false. Kim Ho-joong went on to hold a solo concert, 'Tvarotti Classic Arena Tour 2024 - Changwon,' in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, on May 18-19, and later admitted to drunk driving late that night. On stage, he had previously stated, "All truths will be revealed," and, "I will bear all sins and wounds," but now faces inevitable consequences for his actions.

The reaction from fans has further fueled the controversy. In a post on his fan cafe, Kim expressed, "I sincerely apologize for hurting the pride of our Aris family with this incident. What good is it for someone who has sinned to speak at length? Once the investigation is over and all results are out, I will return home. To not betray the dreams of our family, I believe I must live diligently."

Fans responded with blind support, saying things like, "I’m glad you spoke the truth now," "I hope you become a strong mountain," "Let’s meet again looking even better. Please don’t make us wait too long," "Regardless of the outcome, we are family," "I won’t let go of my family’s hand," "I’ll wait until you come home," and "Anyone can make a momentary mistake."