Update on Kim Ho-joong’s Settlement with Accident Victim and Taxi Driver’s Decision to Temporarily Stop Driving

On June 13th, a settlement was reached between Kim Ho-joong’s side and taxi driver A. The two parties had their first contact a month after the accident and the agreement was signed the following day.

A is currently receiving outpatient treatment and the taxi is still being repaired. A has expressed that they will not be driving for the time being, explaining, “I need some rest right now. I don’t feel ready to drive again.”

A recounted the entire process of the accident and subsequent settlement to Dispatch. According to A, the accident occurred suddenly and the settlement was delayed without any guarantee. A also expressed discontent with the police’s handling of the victim’s case.

A, who was recalling the incident, stated, “Out of nowhere, a car appeared on top of the taxi. The driver fled the scene, leaving me to handle the situation and report it to 112 by myself. It wasn’t until I saw the news that I discovered the driver was Kim Ho-joong.”

Despite Kim Ho-joong’s constant media coverage, the victim was unable to obtain his contact information. They complained, “I needed to handle the insurance, but the police did not provide me with his phone number.”

Due to this, A had to cover the costs of repairing their car and medical examinations using their personal insurance. A shared, “Despite being in an accident, I received no assistance from my insurance provider. I had to handle everything on my own for a month.”

Despite facing difficulties, Kim Ho-joong’s side expressed their desire to apologize and compensate the victim for the accident. However, they were unable to do so as they were not provided with the victim’s contact details by the police, preventing them from meeting and resolving the issue.

During the prosecution investigation, the two parties were able to establish contact. A revealed, “I was contacted by Kim Ho-joong’s side and we exchanged messages. Our communication began on June 12th and the following day, I received an apology and we were able to come to a resolution.”

According to Dispatch, the Gangnam Police Station stated that A’s condition had initially been diagnosed as requiring two weeks of recovery, but it had since deteriorated. They assured that there was no justification for delaying the resolution and that they were also investigating Kim Ho-joong.

Additionally, it is anticipated that this agreement will have a positive impact on the sentencing. Kim Ho-joong is currently facing charges for dangerous driving resulting in injury, leaving the accident scene, and neglecting to take action after the incident, all of which are violations of the Road Traffic Act. He has been in custody since May 24th.