Why did singer Kim Ho-joong delay admitting to drunk hit-and-run until after Changwon concert?
Singer Kim Ho-joong / Courtesy of Think Entertainment
Popular trot and popera singer Kim Ho-joong, 32, admitted to drunk driving on Sunday, after concluding his concert in the southeastern city of Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
This admission came 10 days after he was involved in a hit-and-run incident, raising questions about the timing and motivations behind his confession.
Kim confessed Sunday through his agency, Think Entertainment.
"I did drink and drive," he said. "I deeply regret my actions and am reflecting on them. I will fully cooperate with the police investigation."
Kim, who had previously denied the accusations before his performances in Changwon on Saturday and Sunday, expressed his remorse.
"I want to sincerely apologize for the hurt and disappointment my momentary lapse in judgment has caused to many people," he said.
Think Entertainment, the agency accused of attempting to hide Kim's drunk driving, also issued an apology.
"We sincerely apologize for causing social controversy due to our poor judgment," the agency said. "From our initial official stance to the present, we were preoccupied with concealing the situation. We committed an irreparable mistake out of a misguided belief that we needed to protect our artist."
Kim will appear before the police and cooperate fully with the investigation, it said. The exact date of his police appearance is still being arranged.
During his concert in Changwon on Sunday, he addressed the audience, saying, "I'm sorry. I'm the one who committed the crime. You just came to enjoy the show."
The previous night, he had said, "I will take all the blame and pain."
Kim is accused of leaving the scene without taking any measures after colliding with an oncoming taxi on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, at around 11:40 p.m. on May 9.
The police suspect that he had been drinking at three separate gatherings before heading to a fourth when the accident occurred. He faces charges of fleeing the scene and failing to take action after the accident.
Fans line up at the entrance of the Changwon Sports Park Indoor Gymnasium in Seongsan District, Changwon, for singer Kim Ho-joong's nationwide tour concert, "Tvarotti Classic Arena Tour 2024." Yonhap
Show goes on despite drunk drving allegations
Despite the incident, Kim proceeded with his "Tvarotti Classic Arena Tour" in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on May 11 and 12 as scheduled. Even after news of the accident broke on Tuesday, his agency insisted that he had not been drinking before the Goyang concerts.
The singer continued with the performances in Changwon, only admitting to the drunk driving charges after the second day's show.
Industry insiders believe Kim's delayed admission was a strategy to buy time and secure revenue from the concerts, thereby minimizing cancellation penalties and financial losses.
The two Changwon concerts drew a total audience of 11,600, with ticket prices set at 230,000 won ($170) for VIP seats and 210,000 won for R seats. Both shows sold out, generating an estimated 2.3 billion won in revenue.
Including the Goyang performances, which were of similar scale, the total revenue from the four concerts post-accident is estimated to be around 5 billion won. One industry insider criticized Kim's actions, saying, "Blinded by immediate profit, he deceived his fans and the public."
Sold out tickets and cancellation fees
Think Entertainment has not offered a clear response to demands from fans for compensation due to cancellation fees incurred for the Changwon concert tickets.
Kim is also facing substantial penalties for canceling his appearances at the "World Union Orchestra Super Classic: Kim Ho-joong & Primadonna" concerts at Seoul Olympic Park's KSPO Dome on Thursday and Friday.
Unlike his tour, these concerts are hosted by KBS, and Kim's cancellation due to his actions could lead to significant penalties. The concert tickets ranged from 150,000 to 230,000 won, with both performances sold out.
With an average ticket price of 200,000 won, the total revenue is estimated to be around 4 billion won. Given the high production costs, including the participation of members from prestigious orchestras like the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, replacing Kim has been challenging.
KBS has already requested a substitute performer, but with many ticket holders being Kim's fans, a large-scale refund or cancellation is possible.
In the wake of the incident, Kim and his agency spent five days hiding behind the fervent support of his fans while lying about the incident. One fan posted on a fan club site, "People make mistakes. We support our singer."
An entertainment industry official said, "By exploiting the loyalty of his hardcore fans for immediate profit, Kim Ho-joong and his agency have betrayed the public trust, the most valuable asset for any entertainer. His future activities in the entertainment industry will inevitably face significant constraints."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.