Popera Star Kim Ho-joong Sentenced to 2 1/2-Year Prison Term for Hit-and-Run.

Seoul: A local court on Wednesday sentenced popera star Kim Ho-joong to 2 1/2 years in prison on charges of ramming into a taxi and fleeing the scene. In delivering the sentence, the Seoul Central District Court stated that Kim "fled irresponsibly" after causing damage to the taxi and its driver while driving under the influence. The court also noted that Kim added to the confusion in the police's investigation by having his manager falsely surrender himself to the authorities on his behalf. According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim, 32, was indicted under arrest for ramming his car into a parked taxi in the opposite lane in Seoul's Gangnam Ward on May 9. After the incident, Kim left the scene and instructed his manager to turn himself in as the perpetrator. The singer acknowledged his responsibility 10 days after the incident. Police had initially filed for a DUI charge against Kim, but the prosecution removed it from the indictment, citing the difficulty of accurately measuring his blood alcohol concentration retroactively. Prosecutors had demanded a 3 1/2-year prison term for Kim.