Fans Plead For Leniency For Singer Arrested Over DUI Charges Citing 10 Billion Won Donation
Kim Ho Joong, one of the biggest trot singers in Korea, was recently arrested for his involvement in a DUI incident.
The singer’s arrest came after an array of alleged attempts made by his team to cover up the crime, which has only muddied his image further in the eyes of the public. His fans, however, have pleaded for leniency, citing their previous charitable work.
In late May, a fan posted a message on KBS’s viewer petition board, defending Kim against broadcast expulsion. They argued that Kim Ho Joong’s positive influence has resulted in substantial fan-led donations to important causes and appealed to the public to go easy on him despite his current criminal charges. They argued that Kim’s fans had donated nearly ₩10.0 billion KRW (about $7.30 million USD) in the past four years, emphasizing the societal impact of the singer’s good influence.
According to reports, between April 2020 and December 2023, Kim’s fan club donated a total of ₩9.70 billion KRW (about $7.08 million USD). But approximately ₩7.50 billion KRW (about $5.48 million USD) out of that amount was made in the form of donating 528,430 copies of Kim’s second full-length album, Panorama. Each copy retailed for about ₩14,200 KRW (about $10.40 USD). The albums were dispersed in 685 locations, according to the claims, but the specific details have not been revealed.
Out of the remaining amount, a cash donation of ₩225 million KRW (about $164,000 USD) was made to UNICEF for Turkey earthquake relief, while ₩351 million KRW (about $256,000 USD) was made to Hope Bridge to help flood victims.
The petition has acquired over 1500 signatures at the time of writing. But it has received scathing criticism from the public, as many felt that the inclusion of album donations in its list of charitable causes was disingenuous. They argued that albums wouldn’t be considered an essential item to any underprivileged person unless they are already a fan. It has been labeled as a questionable attempt on the fans’ part to boost Kim’s album sales while disguising it as philanthropy.
Meanwhile, Kim Ho Joong is currently implicated in a drunk-driving case, which began on May 14, when a CCTV video was released showing a car claimed to be Kim Ho Joong’s crashing into a taxi and fleeing the scene. He initially denied the claims, and his CEO took the blame instead. However, he was caught lying to the police and was put under investigation.
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