25.04.24.Today News : Kim Ho-joong Submits 134 Reflection Letters Before Appeal / Kang Dong-hee Gets 1-Year Sentence for Embezzlement
1. Kim Ho-joong Submits 134 Reflection Letters Before Appeal
Singer Kim Ho-joong, who was sentenced to prison for a hit-and-run while under the influence, has submitted an additional 30 letters of reflection ahead of his appeal verdict, which is scheduled for tomorrow.
According to the legal community on the 24th, Kim, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Injury by Dangerous Driving), has submitted a total of 34 additional letters of reflection since the second hearing of his appeal last month.
In the first trial last November, the court sentenced Kim to two years and six months in prison, stating, “He irresponsibly fled the scene right after the accident, had his manager falsely turn himself in, and caused confusion in the initial investigation. This wasted police resources.” Prosecutors had sought a sentence of three years and six months.
Kim appealed the sentence, claiming it was too harsh, and pleaded for leniency at his first appeal hearing on February 12.
Ahead of the second hearing last month, Kim had already written 100 letters of reflection. With the verdict date approaching, he added 30 more. Some speculate this could be a strategy to receive a lighter sentence.
Petitions from fans requesting leniency continue to be submitted. It is also reported that Kim’s manager and the head of his agency, who were indicted alongside him, submitted their own letters of reflection. However, the public remains cold toward Kim.
His side is reportedly claiming that the cause of the accident was not alcohol but distracted driving due to mobile phone use.
The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Appeals Division 5-3 will deliver the appeal verdict on the 25th for Kim and three others indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Injury by Dangerous Driving).
In May of last year, Kim was driving under the influence in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, when he hit a taxi on the opposite side of the road and fled the scene. He is accused of coercing his manager, Mr. Jang, to falsely confess to the crime.
However, because Kim reported to the police 17 hours after the accident, the Widmark formula could not be applied to determine his blood alcohol level, leading to the drunk driving charge being excluded—raising controversy.
One-line summary : Kim Ho-joong submitted a total of 134 letters of reflection ahead of his appeal trial for a hit-and-run under the influence, possibly seeking a reduced sentence.
2. Kang Dong-hee Gets 1-Year Sentence for Embezzlement
Kang Dong-hee, a former professional basketball coach, has been sentenced to one year and two months in prison for embezzling around 180 million KRW in corporate funds while operating a basketball school.
On the 24th, Judge Kim Eun-hye of the Incheon District Court sentenced Kang, 59, to 1 year and 2 months in prison on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust.
An associate involved in the case, referred to as Mr. A, was sentenced to one year in prison, while three other individuals received suspended sentences ranging from 9 months to one year with a 2-year probation.
Judge Kim stated that Kang and his co-defendants “withdrew and misused company funds during a management dispute, worsening the company’s finances,” and added that “Kang, as the de facto manager, was responsible for key decisions.” She also noted that the total damages amounted to 181 million KRW and that some defendants directly benefited from the crimes.
However, she explained that “the damage had not materialized in some aspects—for instance, the 10 million KRW used as a deposit for an office rental is expected to be returned at the end of the lease.” The court also took into account that none of the defendants had prior records of similar offenses.
Kang appeared in court wearing jeans and a black jumper, listening to the verdict with his hands clasped.
Kang and others were indicted for embezzling 106 million KRW in corporate funds between May and October 2018, using the money with four staff members of the basketball school. They also used 21 million KRW of the school's funds to pay legal fees and rent a new office, further harming the foundation.
Prosecutors had filed the indictment in January 2023.
Kang denied the charges during the trial, claiming he did not collude with other defendants nor gain any personal benefit.
Once hailed as a “wizard on the court” and a national team player during his career, Kang was convicted in 2013 of fixing professional league games after accepting 47 million KRW from brokers in 2011, and was subsequently expelled from the Korean Basketball League (KBL).