SEOUL — South Korean trot singer Jeong Dong-won, 18, is currently under investigation by prosecutors for allegedly driving a vehicle without a license when he was 16 years old. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office has confirmed it is probing the singer on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act.

The incident, which took place in 2023 in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, came to light after Jeong became the victim of a blackmail plot. According to reports, a group of individuals who obtained Jeong’s lost cell phone discovered a video of him driving a vehicle without a license. Under Korean law, a driver's license can only be obtained from the age of 18, making him ineligible at the time.

The blackmailers reportedly threatened to leak the video and other private information unless Jeong paid them 500 million won. He is said to have handed over approximately 100 million won to retrieve his device. Following the payment, Jeong's legal representatives filed a complaint, leading to the arrest of the three suspects.

During the police investigation, the video of the unlicensed driving was found on the singer's phone, which led to him being charged and referred to the prosecution in June. His legal team stated that the singer "drove out of curiosity just once" and that he has admitted his wrongdoing and is cooperating with the investigation.

This is not the first time Jeong has been involved in a traffic-related offense. In March 2023, he was caught riding a motorcycle on Seoul's Dongbu Arterial Road, a highway where two-wheeled vehicles are prohibited. At the time, he received a deferred prosecution due to his status as a minor and a first-time offender.