Kim Ho Joong evades reporters and enters police station through an underground entrance for the investigation

Trot singer Kim Ho Joong is facing controversy for evading reporters and entering the police station through an underground entrance.

On the afternoon of May 21, around 2 PM, Kim Ho Joong arrived at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul. To avoid the reporters waiting in front of the main entrance, he used the underground parking lot entrance. It appears he had requested a private appearance through his lawyer beforehand.

The reporters gathered at the scene were visibly disappointed by Kim Ho Joong's unexpected arrival. A police official explained to them, "According to police regulations and the design of the new police station, suspects can come up directly from the underground parking lot."

The official added, "This does not mean the suspect received special treatment or made any specific requests."

Kim Ho Joong was there to be questioned on several charges, including drunk driving, hit-and-run, and driver swapping.

The singer is accused of hitting a taxi and fleeing the scene on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around 11:40 PM on the 9th. He allegedly swapped drivers with his manager and falsely claimed to have a panic disorder to conceal his drunken state, which drew public outrage.

As the controversy grew, Kim Ho Joong admitted to drunk driving on the 19th after completing a scheduled concert in Changwon. His confession, which came ten days after the incident, intensified public criticism. At that time, he posted an apology on his fan cafe, saying, "I'm sorry," but also stated, "I will return here after all investigations and results are out," which he later deleted.