Former WINNER member and singer Nam Tae-hyun was caught by the police for drunk driving, a fact that came to light belatedly as he was gearing up for a comeback performance.
On the 8th, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced that Nam Tae-hyun was being investigated for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving). Although the police applied for a warrant for his arrest on the 2nd, the court deemed the grounds for arrest insufficient during the warrant hearing held on the 7th and dismissed it.
Nam Tae-hyun is accused of crashing into a median strip near Dongjak Bridge on the Gangbyeon North Road towards Ilsan on the 27th of last month at around 4:10 AM while attempting to overtake another vehicle. At the time, Nam Tae-hyun's blood alcohol content was at a level warranting license revocation (0.08% or higher), but it was reported that there were no casualties resulting from the accident.
This is not the first time Nam Tae-hyun has been caught drunk driving. In March 2023, he was fined 6 million won for causing a drunk driving accident while under investigation for drug use. Additionally, in January of the previous year, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence for violating the Narcotics Control Act and was in a period of reflection.
Nam Tae-hyun was originally scheduled to perform at 'K-pop Week in Hongdae,' organized by Yoon Hyung-bin's Yoonso Group, on the 6th. On the 2nd, the Yoonso Group announced, "The scheduled performance by Nam Tae-hyun has been canceled. We are currently processing refunds and other related measures."
Ahead of the performance, Nam Tae-hyun shared on his social media, "I greet you with news of a performance after a long time. Despite many happenings, as an artist who loves music, I aim to return to my place as a more mature individual."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)