Kim Ho-joong Released on Parole Five Months Before Sentence Completion

5001
Singer Kim Ho-joong was released on parole Tuesday after serving most of his prison sentence for his conviction in a drunk hit-and-run case.

Kim left Somang Correctional Institution in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, at around 10 a.m. His original release date had been set for Nov. 24, but he was granted early release after being approved by the Ministry of Justice's parole review committee. Having completed about 80 percent of his sentence, he will remain under probation for the rest of his term.

His agency said Kim will not immediately return to entertainment activities. Instead, he plans to undergo surgery on both ankles, a long-standing health issue, followed by rehabilitation. The company said his condition worsened during his time in prison due to limited treatment.

Kim was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after being convicted over a May 2024 drunk driving incident in Seoul's Apgujeong area. Prosecutors said he crossed the center line, collided with an oncoming taxi and fled the scene. During the investigation, authorities also found that his manager falsely turned himself in following the crash.

After beginning his sentence at the Seoul Detention Center, Kim was transferred to Somang Correctional Institution in August 2025, where he remained until his parole. Under the conditions of his release, he must comply with probation requirements, including obtaining approval for major changes such as relocating or traveling overseas.