[Anchor]

Singer Kim Ho-joong, who had been serving a prison sentence for a drunk driving hit-and-run, was released on parole this morning, June 30. He has returned to society five months earlier than his original scheduled release date in November.

Reporter Kim Deok-hyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

Trot singer Kim Ho-joong, who was serving time for a drunk driving hit-and-run accident, was released on parole at 10:00 a.m. today.

Having recently passed the Ministry of Justice's parole review, he was released five months ahead of his original full-term release date, which was scheduled for November.

In May 2024, Kim drove his vehicle while under the influence on a road in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crossed the center line, and collided with a taxi in the opposite lane.

It was revealed that Kim fled the scene after the accident and conspired with his agency's CEO and others to have his manager turn himself in as the driver instead.

Kim was charged with dangerous driving resulting in injury and fleeing the scene under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.

Although there were circumstances suggesting Kim intentionally attempted to drink more alcohol by purchasing beer at a convenience store immediately after the accident, the charge of drunk driving was excluded because he appeared at the police station 17 hours after the incident, making it difficult to determine his exact blood alcohol concentration at the time of the crash.

The first and second trial courts sentenced Kim to two years and six months in prison, and the sentence was finalized after Kim withdrew his appeal to the Supreme Court.

During the first trial, the court reprimanded him, stating, "CCTV footage shows Kim staggering due to the influence of alcohol, yet he provided excuses that are difficult to accept," adding, "It is questionable whether he felt any sense of remorse for his actions as an adult."

Kim, who had been held at the Seoul Detention Center, was transferred to the Yeoju Somang Correctional Institution, a private facility, in August of last year to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Meanwhile, following Kim's crime, the so-called Kim Ho-joong Prevention Act, which punishes individuals for consuming additional alcohol with the intent to deceive breathalyzer tests, was passed by the National Assembly and has been in effect since last year.

(Video Editing: Lee Sang-min)