He is now in Melon’s “Gold Club” with BTS, IU, and SEVENTEEN.
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Top trot singer Kim Ho Joong is set to walk free five months earlier than expected, and the timing has already reignited questions about whether a return to the stage could come sooner rather than later.
According to reports on June 23, 2026 (KST), Kim Ho Joong recently passed the Ministry of Justice’s parole review and will be released on June 30. His original release date was set for November 24, meaning he will be leaving prison about 5 months ahead of schedule.
Kim Ho Joong was serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in connection with a 2024 DUI hit-and-run case. In May 2024, he was accused of driving under the influence in Seoul’s Apgujeong area, crossing the centerline, colliding with a taxi on the opposite side of the road, and fleeing the scene.
Top Trot Singer Kim Ho Joong Sentenced To 30 Months Prison For Drunk Driving Incident
The case drew even greater backlash after it was revealed that Kim Ho Joong had allegedly had his manager turn himself in instead. He was later arrested and indicted on charges including fleeing the scene after causing injury and failing to take proper action after an accident.
Both the first and second trial courts sentenced Kim Ho Joong to two years and six months in prison. After he chose not to appeal further, the sentence was finalized.
Kim Ho Joong had been detained at the Seoul Detention Center before being transferred last August to Somang Correctional Institution in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, where he has continued serving his sentence.
Somang Correctional Institution
His upcoming release comes after an earlier parole attempt was rejected. Last December, Kim Ho Joong was reportedly included in a parole review around the Christmas special pardon period but was deemed ineligible at the time. About six months later, authorities appear to have reassessed his conduct and overall prison record, leading to the approval of his parole.
Under Korean law, prisoners who have served at least one-third of their sentence may be eligible for parole review. However, parole is not considered a prisoner’s automatic right. It is a discretionary decision made by correctional authorities, generally based on factors such as behavior during incarceration and the perceived risk of reoffending. Under Ministry of Justice guidelines, inmates must also typically serve at least 60 percent of their sentence to be considered for preliminary parole review. In Kim Ho Joong’s case, reports state that he has served roughly 80 percent of his sentence, allowing him to be released ahead of his full term.
Now, attention is shifting to what comes next. Even while facing intense public criticism over the DUI hit-and-run case, Kim Ho Joong’s fandom has remained notably strong. On the same day news of his parole was reported, it was also revealed that he had surpassed 5 billion cumulative streams on Melon, one of Korea’s largest music platforms, earning a spot in the platform’s Gold Club.
The Gold Club is reserved for top-tier artists who have recorded between 5 billion and 10 billion cumulative streams. Kim Ho Joong reportedly became the sixth artist to reach the milestone, following BTS, Lim Young Woong, IU, EXO, and SEVENTEEN.
His previous releases have also reflected the scale of his fanbase. His full-length album “We Are” and classical album “The Classic” each recorded sales approaching 500,000 copies, further proving the commercial power behind his name.
Speculation over his possible comeback had already begun before his parole approval. Last October, Song Young Gil, the leader of the Pine Tree Party, revealed that he had visited Kim Ho Joong while the singer was detained at the Seoul Detention Center. Song later shared a handwritten letter he said he had received from Kim Ho Joong. In the letter, Kim Ho Joong reportedly wrote that he had gained courage and come to understand “why I must stand on stage again” and “why I must sing again.” The mention of returning to the stage was widely interpreted as a sign that he still hoped to resume his career.
With his release now scheduled for June 30, Kim Ho Joong will soon return to society after roughly two years behind bars. Whether he will take time away from the public eye or move quickly toward a music industry comeback remains to be seen.
What is already clear, however, is that his fandom has not disappeared during his absence. And that unwavering support may play a major role in determining just how soon Kim Ho Joong finds his way back to the stage.
Read more:
Kim Ho Joong’s Manager Confesses To “Swallowing” The Evidence Of The Singer’s DUI Incident
Source: Star News and xportsnews