Trot singer Kim Ho-joong to continue performances amid hit-and-run investigation
Korean trot singer Kim Ho-joong, facing investigation for a hit-and-run, reportedly delayed responding to police summons despite multiple requests. Gangnam Police Station in Seoul identified Kim as the owner of the vehicle involved in a May 9 incident in Apgujeong-dong, where a white SUV collided with a taxi at around 11:40pm KST. The South Korean singer is currently under scrutiny for the incident. Here's the chronology of events.
Manager claimed responsibility while Kim remained silent
Per reports, the cops attempted to contact Kim via text messages and calls but received no response. Approximately two hours after the accident, Kim's manager turned himself in, claiming to be the driver. Interestingly, he was found wearing the clothes that the crooner had worn at the time of the incident. Despite these developments, Kim remained silent and did not immediately respond to authorities' inquiries.
Authorities suspect a potential DUI in this case
The singer finally arrived at the police station at around 4:30pm the following day, roughly 17 hours after the accident, suggest media reports. He underwent a breathalyzer test which yielded negative results. Following interrogation, Kim admitted to being the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident. Authorities suspect that Kim may have been driving under the influence and are conducting further investigations.
Charges are also being considered against Kim's manager
Authorities are also considering pressing charges against Kim's manager for falsely surrendering himself. In addition, they are contemplating measures such as a compulsory probe to locate the missing black box memory card of Kim's vehicle. While Kim remained embroiled in the ongoing investigations, his agency Think Entertainment issued an official statement on Wednesday, announcing that the artist's scheduled performances will proceed as planned.
'Tour will be held without any changes to the schedule...'
In their statement, the agency expressed regret and a sense of responsibility for the delayed response after the accident. "We are committed to safeguarding our artist at all costs," the statement affirmed. Meanwhile, they confirmed Kim's plans to proceed with the Tvarotti Classic Arena Tour 2024 and World Union Orchestra Super Classic in Changwon and Gimcheon without schedule alterations, thanking fans for their unwavering support.
