A drunk hit-and-run, Kim Ho-joong, about a year before he was released from prison..Korea's only private prison transfer
Aug 19, 2025
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According to a sports report on the 19th, Kim Ho-joong recently entered the Somang Prison located in Buknae-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do from the Seoul Detention Center, where he was previously imprisoned.
Somang Prison is the only private prison in Korea, and it operates an edification program based on Christian beliefs and is known as a correctional facility with a low recidivism rate. The prison receives voluntary applications from prisoners and decides whether to accept them through strict examination by the Ministry of Justice.
The subjects of admission are limited to men between the ages of 20 and 60 who have been sentenced to at least one year and seven years in prison, and drugs, organized violence, and public security offenses are excluded. In particular, prisoners with a clear willingness to change are given priority opportunities, and there are no restrictions on religion.
Earlier, Kim Ho-joong is accused of driving drunk on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at around 11:40 p.m. on May 9 last year and running away after hitting a taxi on the opposite road.
The first trial court sentenced him to two and a half years in prison on charges of violating the law on aggravated punishment for specific crimes (hazardous driving injuries, escape injuries), violating the Road Traffic Act (not taken after the accident), and escaping teachers.
Kim Ho-joong appealed, denying both the drunk driving method and the charge of the fugitive teacher, but the second trial court rejected it. Kim Ho-joong appealed, but he finally gave up his appeal on April 19.
As a result, the sentence of two and a half years in prison was confirmed. Since Kim Ho-joong has been under arrest since May last year, he is expected to be released from prison in November next year if he serves all of his sentences.
yaqqol@sportschosun.com
