Police grill singer Kim Ho-joong over drunk hit-and-run allegations

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Police grill singer Kim Ho-joong over drunk hit-and-run allegations

Published: 21 May. 2024, 17:31

Trot and popera singer Kim Ho-joong greets fans as he enters a building last February. Kim appeared for questioning at Seoul Gangnam Police Station at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday regarding allegations he was involved in a drunk hit-and-run incident. [NEWS1]

Trot and popera singer Kim Ho-joong was questioned by the police regarding allegations he was involved in a drunk hit-and-run.

The 32-year-old singer, who gained popularity after appearing on the audition show "Mr. Trot" in 2020, is accused of driving into a taxi in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, late on May 9. He fled the scene after the collision and was allegedly intoxicated.

About three hours after the crash, Kim's manager, dressed in Kim's clothes, falsely claimed responsibility for being behind the wheel. Kim was reportedly hiding at a hotel in Gyeonggi with his other manager.

The next day, 17 hours after the crash, Kim surrendered to the police, confessing to driving the vehicle.

Kim and his agency, Think Entertainment, however, strongly denied allegations that Kim was drunk at the time, claiming the accident occurred due to his unskilled driving.

It took him 10 days after the accident to admit to his driving under the influence of alcohol, posting an apology post on his online fan club on Sunday.

The apology followed his controversial decision to proceed with a two-day tour in Changwon, South Gyeongsang.

On Monday, the Seoul Gangnam Police Precinct requested a travel ban on the singer, the head of Think Entertainment, a company employee and Kim's manager on charges of instigating the singer's flight.

A vehicle presumed to be carrying Kim Ho-joong leaves the police station on Tuesday. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Kim appeared for questioning at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

The popera singer entered the police station through an underground parking lot to avoid waiting reporters.

The interrogation came twelve days after hit-and-run allegations surfaced against Kim.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]