Famous Trot Singer Loses $500,000 Damage Lawsuit Against 179 Anti-Fans Over Online Hate Comments
Singer Kim Ho Joong, who is currently serving a prison sentence on charges of drunk driving and hit-and-run, has lost a damages lawsuit he filed against 180 anti-fans.
On the 4th of February, the Seoul Central District Court held the sentencing hearing for the damages lawsuit Kim Ho Joong filed against Kang (surname) and 179 other anti-fans.
Previously, in 2021, Kim Ho Joong filed a lawsuit seeking approximately 764 million KRW in damages against 180 individuals who posted negative content about him online.
Kim Ho Joong claimed that anti-fans had caused him serious harm by posting negative comments and posts related to his past military service controversy.
Although Kim Ho Joong’s side argued that the actions were not habitual and were mostly one-off incidents but still had a negative impact, the court did not accept this argument.
Meanwhile, on May 9, 2024, at around 11:40 p.m., Kim Ho Joong was driving under the influence on Apgujeong-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, crossed the center line, collided with an oncoming taxi, fled the scene, and had his manager falsely turn himself in on his behalf. He was indicted while in custody on charges including dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
Kim Ho Joong initially denied drunk driving but admitted to the charges ten days after the accident. He was later sentenced to two years and six months in prison and was first incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center before being transferred to the private Somang Prison, where he is currently serving his sentence.
In December last year, he was included on the list for a Christmas special parole review but was deemed ineligible. His release is scheduled for November.
Source: (A)
