Trot singer Kim Ho Joong was allegedly spotted buzzed outside an adult entertainment venue before his hit-and-run accident.
According to an exclusive report by Channel A's 'News A' on May 16, Kim Ho Joong was seen on CCTV walking outside of an adult entertainment venue located in Gangnam, Seoul on April 9 seemingly inebriated. Reports say the trot singer stumbled for a moment before getting into the passenger seat of a luxury sedan, where a substitute driver was waiting to take him home.
Fifty minutes later, Kim Ho Joong was driving an SUV when he collided with a taxi in the opposite lane and fled the scene as previously reported. At the time of the accident, he was said to be heading to another adult entertainment establishment to meet acquaintances for personal reasons. Previously, Kim Ho Joong claimed he was visiting the establishment to meet the CEO of his agency, and he asserted he did not drink alcohol as he has a concert coming up.
The police are investigating whether Kim Ho Joong was intoxicated at the time based on testimonies from the entertainment venue staff. Five minutes after the hit-and-run, the singer was caught on CCTV as he stood next to the car with his hand in his pocket making a phone call as he paced. His label has stated he was unable to properly handle the situation due to severe panic.
Following the accident, his manager changed his clothes and claimed to be the one behind the wheel. Another manager removed the memory card in the car's dashcam, and Kim Ho Joong as well as his managers went to a lodging in Guri, Gyeonggi Province instead of his home. The CEO of his agency stated he instructed the manager to falsely admit fault and to remove the memory card. The police are investigating whether they attempted to cover up the incident intentionally.
In related news, police are also seeking a search warrant against Kim Ho Joong.
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