Kim Ho-joong undergoes ankle surgery two months after parole release

Singer Kim Ho-joong underwent surgery on his right ankle in August, two months after being released on parole from the Somang Correctional Institution. A return to activities within the year is expected to be difficult as he faces further surgery on his left ankle and a period of rehabilitation.

Singer Kim Ho-joong, who was released on parole after serving a prison sentence for a drunk driving hit-and-run accident, has reportedly undergone ankle surgery two months after his release. As his ankle condition, which had been poor even before his incarceration, led to surgery, a return to activities within the year is expected to be difficult due to scheduled rehabilitation and additional surgery. Following his return to society, he is expected to focus on treatment and recovery rather than the stage for the time being.

Kim Ho-joong underwent surgery on his right ankle at a hospital in August. This comes approximately two months after his parole release from the Somang Correctional Institution in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, on June 30. It is reported that instead of immediately resuming activities after completing his imprisonment, he visited a hospital for treatment.

It is reported that his ankle condition was poor even before his incarceration, to the extent that ligament reconstruction surgery was required. However, he was unable to receive timely treatment during his imprisonment, and after confirming his condition through detailed examinations following his release, he coordinated a surgery schedule with his attending physician. As the treatment that had been delayed for a long period is now being actively carried out, attention is focused on his recovery process.

Kim Ho-joong is currently reported to be focusing on rehabilitation while undergoing physical therapy. While his condition has improved enough for him to walk without a brace, it is reported that he still faces difficulties with running or strenuous exercise. Since being able to walk in daily life is a separate matter from performing normal physical activities, a sufficient recovery period is expected to be necessary.

Following the surgery on his right ankle, surgery on his left ankle is also planned. However, a specific schedule will be determined after sufficiently monitoring the recovery status of the previously operated area. As additional surgery and rehabilitation may follow, it is currently uncertain when Kim Ho-joong will be able to engage in full-scale external activities.

The timing of his return to the entertainment industry also remains uncertain. It is reported that Kim Ho-joong has not engaged in any significant external activities since being released on parole. While he is expected to focus on treatment and rehabilitation for the time being, his resumption of activities is tied not only to his physical recovery but also to how he restores public trust. It is difficult to conclude that a return to the entertainment industry will be possible immediately upon physical recovery.

On May 9, 2024, Kim Ho-joong was driving under the influence of alcohol on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, when he crossed the center line and collided with a taxi coming from the opposite direction. He fled the scene immediately after the accident, and criticism intensified when it was revealed that officials from his agency were involved in switching drivers and removing the memory card from the vehicle's black box. As the controversy expanded through the response process following the accident, the incident caused social repercussions beyond a simple traffic accident.

Although Kim Ho-joong denied drunk driving immediately after the accident, he admitted to the drunk driving and apologized on May 19, 2024, ten days after the incident occurred. He was subsequently indicted on charges including dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and in November of the same year, he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison at the first trial. He appealed the ruling, but the original sentence was maintained in the appellate court, and the sentence was finalized after he abandoned his appeal to the Supreme Court.

After passing the parole screening by the Ministry of Justice, Kim Ho-joong returned to society on June 30 before the expiration of his sentence. He was released approximately five months earlier than his original sentence term, and he remains under probation regarding the remainder of his sentence. While restrictions on his activities are expected for the time being due to surgery and rehabilitation, attention is focused on what steps Kim Ho-joong will take after recovering his health. However, the timing of his return and future activity plans have not yet been specifically confirmed.

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