(Seoul) South Korean actor Ko Kyung-pyo, whose performances in several hit dramas have won him a devoted following, is under police investigation over a suspected drink-driving crash.
According to South Korean media reports on 14 November, police and relevant agencies said the accident occurred at about 3.30am that day in Donggyo-dong, in Seoul’s Mapo district. Ko was driving alone when his car rear-ended a cleaning vehicle carrying out road work. Fortunately, there were no serious casualties, but police were called to the scene.
Officers administered a breathalyser test on arrival. The results showed that Ko’s blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit and high enough to warrant the revocation of his driving licence. He returned home after preliminary police questioning to await further action.
Responding to public scrutiny, his agency CLN issued an official statement acknowledging that he had caused an accident while driving after drinking late at night. It offered its deepest apologies to the cleaning vehicle crew affected and to all his fans, and pledged full cooperation with the continuing legal investigation.
The drink-driving scandal has not only shattered Ko’s positive public image but also affected several major variety shows in preparation or awaiting broadcast. These include tvN’s The Village Barber 2 (《乡村魔发师2》), co-hosted by popular actor Park Bo-gum and scheduled to premiere at the end of this month, and the popular variety show The Great Escape: Urban Legends (《大逃脱：都市怪谈》), due to air in December. Both are set to be significantly affected.
The industry and the public are closely watching how broadcasters respond, while Ko faces a heavy price for his reckless behaviour.
