Hit-and-run, switching places, missing memory card… Police apply for a search warrant for Kim Ho-jung.

Singer Kim Ho-jung is striking a pose at the ‘Trot Music Awards 2024’ red carpet event held at SBS Prism Tower in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of April 12, 2024. 4/12/2024/News1 ⓒ News1 Reporter Kwon Hyun-jin

(Seoul=News1) Reporter Jang Seong-hee = The police have embarked on a coercive investigation against trot singer Kim Ho-jung (33) who was booked for a hit-and-run offense.

According to the police, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station confirmed that the memory card of the black box of Kim’s car, who is suspected of violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take action after an accident), has gone missing, and it was reported that they applied for a search and seizure warrant on the 14th.

Kim is suspected of causing a collision with a taxi while changing lanes on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, around 11:40 p.m. on the 9th. Subsequently, about 2 hours after the accident occurred, at 1:59 a.m. on the 10th, a man in his 30s, A, who is Kim’s manager, visited the police station and surrendered, claiming that he was the driver. However, during the police investigation, it was revealed that Kim was the driver, raising suspicions of a driver switch.

Kim underwent a blood alcohol content test around 4:30 p.m. on the day after the accident, the 10th, but as more than 17 hours had passed since the incident, no significant result was obtained. It was reported that the police also called Kim in for an 8-hour overnight investigation on the 14th regarding the whereabouts of the missing memory card and his activities on the day of the incident.

The police are also reviewing whether the legal principle of applying the crime of aiding and abetting a fugitive can be applied to A, who falsely surrendered.

Currently, Kim denies the hit-and-run and drunk driving allegations. Kim’s side also stated that they plan to proceed with the scheduled performances, including this weekend, without interruption.

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