Trot singer Kim Ho Joong is vehemently denying allegations that he attempted to obstruct his blood alcohol level measurement by drinking after the accident, a method known as "alcohol loading," and is strongly asserting his innocence.

Kim Ho Joong's hit-and-run drunk driving case remains a hot topic of controversy. He was arrested and indicted for driving under the influence last May in Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam, Seoul, where he crossed the center line and crashed into a taxi on the opposite side before fleeing the scene. In the first trial, he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

However, in the appeals trial, Kim Ho Joong claims that he did not use the "alcohol loading" method and is protesting the unfairness of the ruling.

During the first hearing of the appeal, Kim Ho Joong's lawyer argued, “Alcohol loading typically involves consuming strong liquor in situations where a breathalyzer test is anticipated to interfere with accurate measurement.” He stated that since Kim Ho Joong was already aware that his manager was planning to turn himself in on his behalf, there was no reason for him to attempt alcohol loading.

The lawyer further added, “If it were alcohol loading, he would have chosen strong liquor, not canned beer,” and questioned, “He is a well-built man in his 30s—why would he choose such a weak drink to raise his blood alcohol level? That doesn’t make sense.”

Regarding the accusation that Kim Ho Joong made his manager falsely confess in his place after the drunk driving incident, the defense argued, “The decision was made by the agency’s director and the manager, and Kim Ho Joong only passively followed along rather than actively leading the situation.”

Furthermore, concerning the charge of dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Certain Crimes, the defense claimed, “Many testimonies indicate that he was not intoxicated to the extent that normal driving was impossible,” arguing that it cannot be definitively concluded that he was too drunk to drive properly.

Although Kim Ho Joong admitted to the crime ten days after the accident, the police initially charged him with drunk driving and referred him to the prosecution. However, the prosecution did not include the drunk driving charge in the indictment, as they deemed it difficult to determine his exact blood alcohol level through retroactive calculation alone.

Presiding Judge Choi Min Hye of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 26 stated in the first trial ruling, “Not only did he irresponsibly flee the scene, but he also had his manager falsely turn himself in on his behalf, which caused confusion in the initial investigation and significantly wasted police resources.” She then sentenced him to two years and six months in prison.

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