South Korean trot star Kim Ho Joong, currently serving a prison sentence for a DUI hit-and-run incident, has sent a handwritten letter to Song Young Gil, leader of the Pine Tree Party (formerly Democratic Party), promising deep reflection and a new beginning.
On October 3 KST, Song revealed the letter on his social media, writing: “As the Chuseok holiday begins, I’d like to share news about singer Kim Ho Joong.” The two previously shared time together at the Seoul Detention Center, a connection Song noted when describing Kim’s “unusually clear” expression and expressing hope that this period would become “a platform for him to stand again as a world-class singer.”
In the letter, dated September 22, Kim wrote:
“Thanks to you, I’ve regained the courage to understand why I must return to the stage. Though confined, I spend every day reflecting and filling my time with self-discipline. Everything is my fault. Here, I am learning humility in life and, like David, I will not fall in the same place for the same mistake.”
Song commented that he “read sincerity” in Kim’s letter, adding: “While mistakes cannot be erased, the willingness for true reflection and a fresh start deserves respect.”
Kim Ho Joong first rose to fame in 2009 as the “high school Pavarotti” on SBS’s 'Star King' and cemented his stardom in 2020 through 'Mr. Trot'. However, in May 2023 he was involved in a drunk-driving collision in Apgujeong, Gangnam, crossing the centerline and hitting a taxi before fleeing. He was further criticized for allegedly trying to shift blame to his manager and tampering with the taxi’s black box memory card.
In 2024, Kim received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, which was finalized after he dropped his appeal. He was recently transferred to the privately operated Yeoju Hope Prison, drawing renewed public attention.
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