Kim Ho-joong's agency to remove CEO, employees related to drunk-driving incident

Singer Kim Ho-joong's agency announced it will change its CEO, executives and anyone related to the singer's drunk-driving incident.

Singer Kim Ho-joong attending a warrant review hearing last Friday around noon. [NEWS1]

Singer Kim Ho-joong's agency announced it will change its CEO, executives and anyone related to the singer's drunk-driving incident. The announcement comes amid worsening backlash against Kim who was arrested for hitting a stationary taxi while drunk and fleeing the scene.

"We decided that all personnel related to the incident would leave the company," Kim's agency, Think Entertainment, said in a press release on Monday. This is the fifth apology released by the agency since the accident.

"We apologize again for disappointing many people with Kim’s incident," the agency said. The agency also apologized to its signed artists. "Our artists’ opinions are of top priority and all contracts will be terminated without any strings attached for artists wishing to leave."

The company will review its entire business and whether to continue managing any further artists, according to the press release.

"We apologize to everyone who has suffered due to the company and Kim," Think Entertainment said.

Kim has been charged for driving into a stationary taxi and driving away while under the influence of alcohol on May 9 in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. His manager attempted to take the blame for the crash, but the singer turned himself in 17 hours after the incident. Kim also admitted to driving while drunk on May 19, after initially denying drunk-driving accusations for 10 days.

Singer Kim Ho-joong attending a warrant review hearing last Friday around noon. [JOONGANG ILBO]

A local court issued an arrest warrant last Friday for Kim, the CEO of his agency, Lee Kwang-deuk, and the agency headquarters' director, surnamed Jeon, after a police request was made on Thursday. The three were arrested and detained at Gangnam Police Station.

The trio is currently under further police investigation, which will last for up to a maximum of 10 days, until June 3. The case will then be handed over to the prosecutor's office, upon which the trio will be moved to Seoul Detention Center located in Uiwang, Gyeonggi.

Kim failed to show up for the second date of his "World Union Orchestra Super Classic: Kim Ho-joong and Prima-donna" concert, which was set to be held last Friday at 8 p.m. due to his arrest.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]