The Trot singer Kim Ho-jung, who is under investigation for hit-and-run, is increasingly suspected of causing the accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the police on the 19th, there are multiple circumstances indicating that Kim Ho-jung may have consumed alcohol before the accident. The National Forensic Service provided urine test results to the police on the 17th, suggesting that metabolites exceeding the standard for alcohol consumption were detected, indicating that alcohol consumption had taken place before the accident.
Before the accident, Kim Ho-jung reportedly dined at a restaurant with his companions before going to an entertainment establishment, where it is believed that alcohol was consumed. However, it has not been definitively confirmed whether Kim Ho-jung personally drank alcohol with his companions. There are consecutive circumstances suggesting that Kim Ho-jung may have driven under the influence, collided with a taxi, and fled the scene. However, the issue lies in whether these circumstances can serve as evidence to prove the allegations.
Under current traffic laws, the legal limit for alcohol concentration in a driver’s blood is 0.03%. After 8 to 12 hours post-drinking, breath alcohol tests are unable to confirm alcohol consumption. Calculation methods like the “Widmark formula” can estimate blood alcohol concentration over time based on factors like the type of alcohol consumed and body weight, but obtaining the initial concentration makes retroactive analysis difficult for drivers who have concealed their activities for an extended period.
Attorney Jeong Gyeong-il, a specialized traffic accident lawyer, stated to Yonhap News Agency that even if the police gather various evidence of alcohol consumption, it is difficult to determine the exact blood alcohol concentration, making it challenging to substantiate the charge of driving under the influence. Furthermore, in a similar case, TV personality Lee Chang-myeong was acquitted of driving under the influence charges after being indicted nine hours following a traffic accident in 2017, as the accepted standard for blood alcohol concentration had not yet been revised to the current level.
Kim Ho-jung’s side strongly denies the alcohol-related allegations, claiming that he put his lips to the glass but did not consume alcohol. Kim Ho-jung expressed frustration at the concert held the previous day, stating that all truths would come to light.
By Yoon Eun-yong, [email protected]
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