[talk] Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run Kim Ho-joong Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months in Prison

Singer Kim Ho-joong (33), who was arrested and indicted on charges of causing an accident while intoxicated and then fleeing the scene, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

On the 13th, the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Choi Min-hye) sentenced Kim Ho-joong, who was brought to trial on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Dangerous Driving Causing Death), to 2 years and 6 months in prison at the first trial. The prosecution had previously demanded a sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison for Kim at the final trial held in September.

Previously, Kim Ho-joong was arrested and indicted on June 18 for causing an accident on May 9th at around 11:40 PM when he crossed the center line on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crashed into a taxi on the opposite road, and then fled without taking action.

At that time, instead of Kim Ho-joong, the manager made a false confession, raising suspicions of 'switching drivers'. Kim Ho-joong, who had initially denied the drunk driving charges, finally revealed ten days after the accident as the investigation net narrowed, "I drove drunk. I deeply regret it and am reflecting on it."

The police sent Kim Ho-joong to the prosecution for drunk driving, but the drunk driving charge was dropped at the prosecution indictment stage. Kim appeared at the police station 17 hours after the accident and had his blood alcohol level measured, which was below the legal limit (0.03%). Accordingly, the prosecution decided that it would be difficult to determine Kim Ho-joong's exact level of alcohol consumption at the time of the accident using the Widmark formula, which reversely estimates blood alcohol concentration, and did not indict him on the drunk driving charge under the Road Traffic Act.

The original sentence was 3 years and 6 months, but I think it was reduced.

I am one of those people who thinks that drinking is something you really shouldn't do!