'Drug Offender·Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run' Welcomed with Open Arms, Is This Right?.. Yoo Ah-in and Kim Ho-jung, 'Rising Success' as Cellmates at Detention Center [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

At this point, one might wonder what the fuss is about. Both 'drug offender' Yoo Ah-in (40, real name Eom Hong-sik) and 'drunk driving hit-and-run' suspect Kim Ho-jung (35) are returning to activity despite the social controversy surrounding them.

Actors Yoo Ah-in and singer Kim Ho-jung, who appear to have no common ground, are unexpectedly on the same path. First, both have reached the pinnacle in their respective fields, and both caused significant public disappointment due to social controversies. From 2020 to 2023, Yoo Ah-in was found to have administered medical narcotics such as propofol 181 times, illegally purchased sleeping pills under others' names, and in January 2023, faced allegations including marijuana use while traveling in the United States and misconduct toward teachers. Ultimately, he was brought to trial on charges of habitual drug use and was sentenced to one year in prison and placed under judicial detention during the first-instance sentencing hearing in 2024. Yoo Ah-in, who was detained at Seoul Detention Center, was released after just five months of incarceration following a reduced sentence in the second-instance trial in February of last year. Subsequently, on July 2025, the Supreme Court finalized a ruling sentencing him to one year in prison with a two-year probation, a fine of 2 million won, and a recovery of illicit gains of 1.54 million won, along with completion of an 80-hour drug rehabilitation education program.

In contrast, on the night of May 9, 2024, Kim Ho-jung was driving after drinking alcohol and crossed the center line on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, colliding with a taxi traveling in the opposite direction. He then fled the scene and was arrested and prosecuted for the charge of having his then-manager, Mr. Jang, turn himself in on his behalf (under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, etc., for causing injury through dangerous driving). Both the first- and second-instance courts sentenced Kim Ho-jung to two years and six months in prison, and the sentence was finalized after Kim Ho-jung abandoned his appeal.

Consequently, Kim Ho-jung also served his time at Seoul Detention Center. He shared an unfortunate connection with Yoo Ah-in, spending the 2024 'Mid-Autumn Festival in prison' together. Later, Kim Ho-jung was transferred to Somang Prison in Yeosu, Gyeonggi-do, in August of last year, where he has been serving his sentence. Recently, having passed the parole review by the Ministry of Justice, Kim Ho-jung will be released five months earlier than his scheduled release date in November. Thus, Kim Ho-jung was released on the 30th.

What is even more remarkable about the two is that despite committing serious crimes, both Yoo Ah-in and Kim Ho-jung have been welcomed with open arms. Surprisingly, this news was also reported on the same day, the 30th.

First, Yoo Ah-in, despite his record as a 'drug offender,' saw his market value discussed at over '1 billion won,' surprising the public. His exclusive contract with UAA (United Artists Agency), where he had been for 12 years since halting activities, expired, and he received the best treatment in the FA market as usual. Moreover, it was reported that he held a meeting with Galaxy Corporation, the hottest agency in recent years known as the company of BIGBANG leader G-Dragon (38, real name Kwon Ji-yong), further fueling the topic. This cannot help but raise questions about the level of awareness regarding illegal acts in the Korean entertainment industry.

While Yoo Ah-in received a warm welcome in the entertainment industry, Kim Ho-jung became a free man on the 30th amid a fervent welcome from fans. On that day, fans wearing matching purple T-shirts gathered at the scene of Kim Ho-jung's release. They greeted him holding placards with messages such as "Son, we love you," "You've been through so much. We love you," and "We waited. Let's be happy now," as well as banners featuring Kim Ho-jung's face.

Given the still-strong power of his fandom, Kim Ho-jung's return to the music industry is seen as inevitable. Kim Ho-jung himself had previously expressed strong determination to return, stating on his official fan cafe 'Travolta' in April this year, "Two years have passed since the time of sin. I will engrave my mistakes in my bones and keep them," and "I will stand up again no matter what. I will sing." The current social trend, which even treats 'serving time' as a mere gap period, leaves the public unable to hide their bitterness.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.