Police raid singer Kim Ho joong’s home and agency, focusing on suspicions of drunk driving and hit-and-run
On the morning of 16 May, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul raided the residence of singer Kim Ho Joong and the office of his agency, Think Entertainment, in order to secure the missing dashcam memory card and to check for evidence destruction and intent to obstruct the investigation. Kim Ho Joong is currently under police investigation for allegedly fleeing and switching drivers after a recent collision.The incident occurred on 9 May 2024 at around 11:40 p.m. in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. A Bentley Bentay driven by Kim Hojoong collided with an oncoming Kia Niro taxi while the vehicle was changing course, and Kim Hojoong fled the scene after the accident. The police are investigating this as a charge of failure to act after an accident under the Road Traffic Act.
Immediately after the accident, Kim Ho Joong’s manager falsely told the police that he caused the accident. However, the police confirmed that the car belonged to Kim Hojoong, who only appeared at the police station 17 hours after the accident. This raised suspicions that he was trying to avoid a breathalyser test.
Suspicion of evading a breathalyser
Suspicions of drunk driving arose when it was revealed that Kim had visited a nightclub before the accident, and a recording was released of him asking his manager to go to the police instead. The recording amplified accusations that Kim Hojoong and his agency were trying to avoid responsibility and cover up the incident.
The agency’s response
As the controversy grew, Lee Kwang-duk, CEO of his agency, Think Entertainment, released an official statement. “He went to a nightclub to say hello to the people who were drinking with him, but he never drank alcohol because he had a concert in Goyang,” Lee said. He added, “Kim Hojoong went home first, and he drove his car for personal business and had an accident while travelling due to inexperience in driving. He was panicking at the time and made a bad judgement call,” he explained.
“He was afraid that it would cause a big controversy if it became known that it was Kim Hojoong. Another manager who arrived at the scene first removed the dashcam memory card on his own initiative, and asked the manager who turned himself in to wear Kim Hojoong’s clothes and do his job for him. All of this happened because I was overprotective of Kim Hojoong,” he said.
The police are investigating the possibility that Kim was driving under the influence of alcohol. The manager has also been charged with making a false confession and destroying evidence. Investigations are currently underway to recover the missing dashcam memory card and to determine the circumstances of the destruction of evidence and the intent to obstruct the investigation.
The way in which Kim Hojoong and his agency handled this case has greatly undermined public trust, especially the fact that his manager was allowed to appear before the police instead of him, which raises legal and moral issues. As a result, Kim and his agency have been heavily criticised and are unlikely to avoid legal consequences.
The Kim Ho Joong case is a reminder of the importance of responsible behaviour and legal and moral standards for celebrities. With police raids and further investigations underway, it is unlikely that Kim and his agency will be able to avoid legal liability. We hope that the truth of the case will be revealed and that the legal process will be conducted fairly.
