Popera star Kim Ho-joong (C) speaks to reporters, in this file photo taken May 31, 2024, while he is escorted by prosecutors from the Gangnam Police Station. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Prosecutors on Monday demanded a 3 1/2-year prison term for popera star Kim Ho-joong on charges of ramming into a taxi in Seoul and fleeing the scene.
Kim was arrested and indicted for allegedly crashing into a stationary taxi in the opposite lane in Seoul’s southern district of Gangnam on the night of May 9 while driving drunk.
He then left the scene without taking post-accident measures and had his manager turn himself in to the police as his replacement.
Kim appeared for questioning 17 hours after the accident, apparently to evade a blood alcohol test.
The prosecution applied charges, including reckless driving resulting in injuries, flight resulting in injuries and taking no post-accident measures, but excluded drunken driving charges after concluding that it was impossible to determine the exact alcohol level through deduction.
Demanding the prison term for Kim, prosecutors said that the singer not only caused an accident while driving drunk but also engaged in an “organized act of obstructing justice” and the case spurred a public uproar.
Kim apologized to the taxi driver who was injured in the accident.
“I am sorry for the victim and will repent. Coming to this point, I further regret my choices on that day,” he said. “I will live a life where I don’t repeat the same mistake. I will live right while staying wide awake.”
The court is scheduled to deliver its sentence for Kim on Nov. 13.
(Yonhap)
