Seoul, South Korea – The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) has formally responded to a public petition from the fan club of trot singer Kim Ho-joong, affirming its decision to maintain his ban from appearing on its broadcasts. The public broadcaster cited its respect for judicial procedures and decisions following the finalized prison sentence against Kim Ho-joong for drunk driving and hit-and-run charges.
KBS issued its official stance on June 20, stating, "We have a duty to report accurately and balanced based on objective facts, without bias towards specific individuals or perspectives." The network acknowledged that Kim Ho-joong's first and second instance trials have concluded, and that his decision to withdraw his appeal to the Supreme Court has led to the finalization of the appellate court's ruling. "KBS respects these judicial procedures and decisions," the statement read.
The public broadcaster also confirmed receipt of the appeal from "People Who Love Kim Ho-joong" fan club, expressing understanding of the fans' deep affection, concerns, and their worries regarding the legal proceedings and media coverage surrounding the case. The fan club's petition, which garnered over 1,000 signatures, was submitted on May 14. In their appeal, fans urged a more lenient view of the singer, asserting that the "alcohol-mixing" aspect of the case was downplayed by investigative authorities and that Kim Ho-joong never explicitly admitted to it. They expressed a fervent hope for the truth to be revealed and re-examined. KBS reiterated its commitment to listening openly to viewer petitions that gather over 1,000 signatures and pledged to avoid sensational or speculative reporting, emphasizing its role as a public broadcaster to deliver balanced coverage.
The legal troubles for Kim Ho-joong began on May 9, 2024, when he was involved in a drunk driving incident in Apgujeong, Seoul. He reportedly drove while intoxicated, crossed the centerline, collided with an oncoming taxi, and then fled the scene. In an attempt to conceal his involvement, Kim Ho-joong allegedly instructed his manager, identified by the surname Jang, to falsely surrender to the police. Kim Ho-joong himself only appeared at the police station 17 hours after the accident. Initial reports indicate he denied drunk driving, but admitted to the charge 10 days later, on May 19, 2024, following mounting evidence.
Further complicating the case was the "sul-tagi" or "alcohol-mixing" controversy, where Kim Ho-joong was suspected of intentionally consuming additional alcohol after the accident to obscure his blood alcohol level, making it difficult for investigators to accurately determine his state at the time of the crash. Although the prosecution did not apply a direct drunk driving charge due to the challenges in retroactively verifying his blood alcohol content, the attempts to obstruct justice through a false confession by his manager and alleged destruction of evidence by his agency's executive (who reportedly destroyed the vehicle's black box memory card) were central to the charges.
Kim Ho-joong was indicted on charges including dangerous driving resulting in injury, hit-and-run resulting in injury, and failure to take necessary measures after a car accident. Both the first and second instance courts consistently sentenced him to two years and six months in prison. The Seoul Central District Court initially handed down this sentence, which was upheld by the appellate court on April 25, 2025. Kim Ho-joong had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court but withdrew it on May 19, 2025, thereby finalizing the appellate court's ruling and his prison sentence.
KBS had initially imposed a temporary appearance suspension on Kim Ho-joong on May 29, 2024, shortly after his arrest and as the public controversy surrounding his actions escalated. The broadcaster adheres to strict regulations concerning public figures involved in illegal or unethical activities that incite social uproar, with measures ranging from temporary to permanent appearance bans. The recent response from KBS underscores its commitment to upholding these standards in light of the judicial outcome of Kim Ho-joong's case.
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