Yonhap News

Singer Kim Ho-joong, who is serving a prison term after being sentenced for a drunk-driving hit-and-run crash, filed a large damages lawsuit against ‘malicious commenters’ (people who post abusive comments), but the court recognized only partial liability.

On the 4th, the Civil Division 45 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Nam Cheon-gyu) ruled, in a damages suit totaling 764 million won that Kim filed against 180 online users, that only two defendants were liable and ordered them to pay 1 million won each. The claims against the remaining 178 were dismissed. The bench reached this decision after considering the content of the posts, the level of expression, and repetition.

In June 2021, Kim filed suit, claiming that their negative posts and comments about him online caused mental harm. The users are reported to have left critical posts related to the controversy over his military service that came to the fore in 2020.

In May 2024, in Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Kim drove after drinking, crossed the center line, collided with a taxi on the opposite carriageway, fled, and had his manager turn himself in in his place; he was indicted and detained on charges including causing injury by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and a sentence of two years and six months in prison was finalized, which he is now serving.

In December last year, Kim was included in the screening for the ‘Christmas special pardon’ parole but was deemed ineligible.