Kim Ho-joong, who is accused of fleeing after causing a traffic accident while intoxicated, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison during the appeal trial.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Appeal Division 5-3 (Director General Kim Ji-sun, So Byeong-jin, Kim Yong-jung) held a sentencing hearing on the 25th for Kim Ho-joong, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (causing injury while driving dangerously), and imposed a sentence of 2 years and 6 months in prison, the same as the first trial.

The representative of the agency and the Deputy Minister, who were indicted together, received sentences of 2 years and 1 year and 6 months, respectively, just like in the first trial.

The court noted, "Considering the statements of the relevant persons and the video footage of entering and leaving the pub before and after intoxication, as well as the vehicle driving footage, it seems that the amount of alcohol consumed by the defendant on the day of the incident was considerable," and stated, "The defendant's ability to drive and judgment were significantly impaired due to alcohol, leading to the accident."

Earlier, on May 9 last year, Kim Ho-joong was driving under the influence in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, when he collided with a taxi parked on the opposite road and fled the scene. After the incident, Kim Ho-joong's manager voluntarily reported to the police, and Kim Ho-joong only appeared at the police station 17 hours later, admitting that he had been driving. As a result, he was indicted and detained for violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes for causing bodily injury while driving dangerously and fleeing, as well as violations of the Road Traffic Act for failing to carry out post-accident measures and instigating the escape of a criminal.

Although Kim Ho-joong admitted to being intoxicated, the charge of drunk driving was excluded. While the police confirmed that Kim Ho-joong had dined with companions and consumed alcohol at a restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, before visiting the entertainment venue, he fled after hitting the taxi and subsequently purchased alcohol to drink, employing what is referred to as the 'drunk driving tactic.' Therefore, the prosecution excluded the drunk driving charge at the indictment stage.

Subsequently, on November 13 last year, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 26 (Judge Choi Min-hye) sentenced Kim Ho-joong to 2 years and 6 months in prison during the first trial, to which Kim Ho-joong immediately appealed. The prosecution also appealed, citing the inappropriateness of the sentence.

Ahead of the second hearing of the appeal, Kim Ho-joong submitted nearly 100 letters of remorse while pleading for leniency, and it has been reported that he submitted more than 30 additional letters of remorse during this sentencing date, but the court maintained the original ruling.

[Photo] OSEN DB

[OSEN]