Trot singer Kim Ho Joong will have to continue serving his 2-year and 6-month prison sentence, as he lost his appeal trial.

On April 25, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Appeals Division 5-3 upheld the original ruling, sentencing Kim Ho Joong to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The charges include dangerous driving resulting in injury and hit-and-run under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Kim Ho Joong appeared in court wearing a light blue prison uniform, keeping his head bowed during the sentencing. He has been in custody since May 24, 2024, and submitted a total of 134 letters of reflection during the trial process.

The CEO (Mr. A) and head director (Mr. B) of his agency were also sentenced for helping destroy evidence. Mr. A received a 2-year prison sentence, and Mr. B received 1 year and 6 months, both sentences upheld from the first trial. Manager Mr. C was sentenced to 1 year in prison with 2 years of probation for making a false confession on Kim’s behalf.

The court stated, “We made our judgment based on the testimonies of those involved, vehicle dashcam footage before and after the drinking, and forensic analysis of the defendant’s walking condition. The amount of alcohol consumed appears significant, so it cannot be said the accident happened merely from using a mobile phone.”

The court continued, “The nature of the defendant’s hit-and-run and the following circumstances are poor. Not only did they systematically participate in harboring the offender, but even after the actual driver was revealed, they actively destroyed the black box footage.”

Both the prosecution’s and Kim’s appeals were dismissed. The court added, “We considered the fact that a settlement was reached with the victim, the defendant has no prior convictions, and this was a first offense. The original sentence does not appear to be outside the bounds of reasonable judicial discretion.”

The incident occurred on May 9 last year, when Kim Ho Joong caused an accident while driving under the influence on a road in Gangnam, Seoul. He collided with an oncoming taxi and fled the scene, later having his manager falsely turn himself in.

Initially, Kim Ho Joong completely denied the DUI allegations. However, after CCTV footage was reported in the media, he confessed 10 days later. At the indictment stage, the DUI charge was dropped due to the inability to determine his blood alcohol level.

During the final trial, Kim Ho Joong expressed remorse, saying, “I want to use this opportunity to apologize to the victim. Everything happened because of me. I will live not just a life of doing ten things right, but one with no mistakes. I will reflect and move forward. I will live properly.”

Prosecutors had initially sought a 3-year and 6-month prison sentence. The first court stated, “It is questionable whether the defendant truly felt guilt over his wrongdoing given his overall attitude after the incident,” and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months. Both the prosecution and Kim Ho Joong appealed.

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