Kim Ho-jung, released on parole, return uncertain [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Singer Kim Ho-jung, serving a sentence for drunk driving and hit-and-run, will be released on parole five months before his term expires and return to society. However, public scrutiny of him remains cold. It remains unclear whether he can regain public trust and return to the stage.

According to a representative of Kim Ho-jung on the 23rd, Kim passed the parole review and will be released on the 30th.

Originally sentenced to two years and six months in the first and second instances, Kim Ho-jung was scheduled to be released in November. However, having passed the parole review, his release date was brought forward by five months, allowing him to return to society earlier.

Earlier, he was also considered for parole review once last December but was deemed ineligible. It was reported that he was subsequently judged eligible after a comprehensive evaluation, including his time in prison.

On May 9, 2024, Kim Ho-jung, while driving under the influence, crossed the center line on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and collided with a taxi coming from the opposite direction before leaving the scene. He also faced public outrage for instructing his manager to make a false surrender, among other allegations of driver substitution. Additionally, after initially denying the drunk driving, he later admitted to it, raising suspicions of "drinking to avoid punishment," known as "shooting the moon." However, the drunk driving charge was dropped at the prosecution stage. The Prosecution Service determined that it was difficult to confirm the level of intoxication based solely on retroactive calculations.

Furthermore, circumstances emerged showing an attempt to cover up the accident in an organized manner, such as removing the black box memory card from the vehicle, leading to his arrest on the 24th of the same month due to the court's judgment that there was a risk of evidence destruction.

The first-instance court deemed that a heavy sentence was inevitable for Kim Ho-jung, who was charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury), and sentenced him to two years and six months in prison. Kim appealed the verdict, but the original ruling was upheld in the second instance. Kim subsequently abandoned his appeal and began serving his sentence.

Kim Ho-jung first gained recognition in 2009 when he appeared on SBS variety program "Star King" as the "High School Student Pavarotti." He later appeared on the TV Chosun survival program "Mr. Trot" in 2020, finishing in fourth place and rising to stardom. He particularly built a solid fanbase by earning the moniker "Trobarotti," which combined classical singing and trot music.

However, he suffered a major blow to his previously built image after being sentenced to prison for the drunk driving and hit-and-run incident. In particular, public criticism intensified as allegations of driver substitution and attempts to destroy evidence surfaced following the accident.

Although an early release became possible, public scrutiny remains cold. While parole has opened the path to returning to society, there are still significant hurdles to overcome before returning to the entertainment industry. Both the broadcasting and advertising sectors demand high moral standards, leading to predictions that resuming activities will not be easy.

Some observers suggest that since there are still many fans supporting Kim Ho-jung, he may resume activities centered around performances. However, given that he caused social controversy through drunk driving, hit-and-run, driver substitution, and attempts to destroy evidence, it is expected to take considerable time to regain public trust. Amidst continued strong public criticism, attention is focused on his future moves.

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*This content was translated by AI.