Correctional officer accused of demanding money from singer Kim Ho-joong over false transfer claim
Trot singer Kim Ho-joong leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District on May 24 after attending a pretrial detention hearing on charges related to a drunk hit-and-run incident.
A correctional officer at Korea’s only private prison is under investigation for allegedly demanding 30 million won ($22,200) from trot singer Kim Ho-joong in exchange for helping arrange his transfer to the facility — a claim authorities say is false.
The Ministry of Justice said the officer, whose name was not released publicly, could face disciplinary action depending on the result of the probe.
According to the ministry on Sunday, the Seoul Regional Correctional Headquarters is investigating allegations that the officer asked Kim for money in September, saying, “I helped you get into Somang Correctional Institution.” Kim rejected the request and reported the incident to another prison officer, the ministry said.
Kim, who was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for a hit-and-run drunk driving incident in Seoul’s Gangnam District last May, was initially held at Seoul Detention Center before being transferred to Somang Correctional Institution in August. He was found guilty of causing the accident and having his manager turn himself in on his behalf.
The justice ministry confirmed that no money changed hands, and that the officer had no involvement in Kim’s transfer. Kim was admitted through formal procedures, which include document screening and interviews for eligible candidates when vacancies arise at the facility.
Located in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, Somang Correctional Institution was established in Dec. 2010 by a Christian foundation, making it the country’s only privately operated prison. It houses up to 400 inmates, and requires a separate application process for transfers from other correctional facilities.
The officer did not hold a position related to inmate selection, according to officials.
“The matter is being thoroughly investigated, and we will take strict disciplinary measures based on the findings,” the ministry said.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.