Former Female K-pop Star Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence for Deadly Car Crash

On July 9, JoongAng Ilbo reported that Yesong, a Korean singer and DJ, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court for causing a fatal car crash while driving under the influence. The court found Yesong guilty of violating traffic laws, fleeing the scene, and failing to take remedial measures after the accident, and also ordered the confiscation of the vehicle involved in the incident.

Yesong’s lawyer argued in court for mitigating circumstances, stating that “She has had numerous successful performances in Asian countries such as China and Thailand, which have helped elevate the reputation of South Korea.”

At the same time, the prosecutor expressed disapproval towards the singer, who was born in 2000, by stating, “The defendant has made numerous conflicting statements. I have doubts about the sincerity of the defendant’s remorse.”

The judge in charge stated that had the defendant been more aware of her surroundings, she could have prevented the occurrence of the two accidents.

During a previous court hearing on April 6, Yesong’s legal team sparked outrage by shifting the blame onto the victim. The lawyer stated, “Based on Korean traffic regulations, motorcyclists are prohibited from using the first lane when traveling on a two-lane road. The delivery person clearly violated these laws. If he had stayed in the second lane, the tragic incident may have been avoided.”

Moreover, the attorney further clarified the cause of the singer’s inebriation, stating, “Given her status as a celebrity, she was obligated to attend social gatherings with other professionals in the entertainment industry.”This explanation only added to the public’s outrage, resulting in the young singer facing a flood of censure.

In February of this year, prominent Korean news sources revealed that Yesong had been driving under the influence when she struck and killed a man in his fifties with her Mercedes Benz. Despite causing a fatal accident, the artist continued to drive a short distance before coming to a stop. Witnesses observed her remaining calm while holding her pet dog, and she refused to cooperate with the police. An angry bystander recounted, “When the authorities attempted to take the dog away, she resisted and asked to speak with her mother before arguing with them.”

Indeed, prior to the deadly crash involving the delivery person, Yesong had been involved in another collision. Following the initial accident, the 21-year-old artist pleaded with the victim to spare them from any consequences, stating, “Do I appear to be heavily intoxicated? Please forgive me this one time.”However, in reality, the police measured Yesong’s blood alcohol level at 0.221%, well above the legal limit.

Yesong, who was born in 2000, entered the K-pop industry at the age of 17 as a member of the idol group INSTAR. Despite two years of unsuccessful activities, the group eventually disbanded. Yesong then shifted to becoming an MC and has since performed both domestically and internationally.