Hit-and-run drunk driver Kim Ho-joong to be released five months early

Trot singer Kim Ho-joong, who was imprisoned for a hit-and-run incident while under the influence of alcohol, is set to be released early from prison on May 30.

Kim, who was originally scheduled for full release in November, passed the Ministry of Justice's parole review on May 19. This allows him to return to society five months ahead of his original sentence completion. He had previously been considered for early release in December but was deemed ineligible at that time. According to the Criminal Act, individuals are eligible for parole review after serving one-third of their sentence.

Kim was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and fleeing the scene of an accident on May 9, 2024. He reportedly purchased alcohol from a convenience store after the accident and spent time in a hotel before reporting to the police 17 hours later. His subsequent breathalyzer test result was negative, leading to controversy over what has been termed the "drinking to evade" tactic. Kim also faces charges for attempting to conceal his crime, including allegedly pressuring his agency's employees to provide a false confession.

Kim was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for charges including dangerous driving causing injury, fleeing the scene of an accident, and failure to provide assistance after an accident under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents. He was initially held at Seoul Detention Center before being transferred to Somang Prison in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, in August. Somang Prison is known as South Korea's only private prison and offers comparatively better conditions than state-run facilities.

In response to the controversy surrounding the "drinking to evade" tactic, the Supreme Court's Sentencing Committee met on May 22 and established new sentencing guidelines on May 23. These guidelines will now include acts of obstructing breathalyzer tests within the existing sentencing standards for refusing a breathalyzer test, ensuring stricter penalties for such behavior.