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Police say Daesung killed motorcyclist, Korean Internet explodes

Police say Daesung killed motorcyclist, Korean Internet explodes

The K-Pop idol is liable to imprisonment up to five years or fines up to W20 million

Big Bang Daesung
Big Bang fans are reeling in horror at the news that Daesung (top right) is to be charged with accidental homicide.
In the biggest news in K-Pop history, police confirmed this morning that Big Bang idol Daesung, 22, was responsible for causing the death of motorcyclist Hyun, 30, last month. 

Daesung’s name is currently dominating all Internet searches and news headlines in Korea, following the police announcement that Daesung will be sent to the public prosecutor’s office and booked without detention. 

The singer is expected to be arrested for accidental homicide, and according to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents, he is facing imprisonment for up to five years or fines up to 20 million (around 18,480 USD). 

May 31 accident

Daesung was taken into custody following a car accident that occurred on Yanghwa Bridge in Seoul around 1:30 a.m. on May 31. 

Daesung was driving his Audi sedan when he hit Hyun -- who was lying on the ground next to his motorcycle -- and then  hit a taxi that was parked in front of the Hyun’s body. Daesung was charged for the accident at Yeongdeungpo police station. 

Until the police announcement this morning, it was unclear whether Daesung had killed Hyun, or if the latter had already been dead at the time of Daesung’s accident. 

“The National Forensic Service reported to us that Hyun was not hit by another car before being hit by Daesung’s car,” the police announced this morning. “Our final conclusion is that [Hyun] was killed after being hit by Daesung’s car.” 

According to the police report, Hyun was intoxicated at the time of the accident. He had been driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.186 percent when he crashed into streetlamp and suffered a head injury.

Although the injury was severe enough to be life threatening, it did not cause instant death. 

“Hyun had been collapsed on the ground for little over two minutes when Daesung’s car hit Hyun and dragged his body for 22.8 meters, causing his death,” said the police. 

Daesung was not intoxicated or using his cell phone at the time of the accident, but was driving 80 kilometers per hour in a 60 kilometer-per-hour zone. 

“We are currently in the process of concluding the investigation, and as Daesung showed remorse and cooperated completely with the investigation, we do not have plans to summon him again over this incident,” said a police spokesman. 

Aftermath

Currently, Korean blogs and social network sites are exploding with sympathy and concern for Daesung, and speculation about how this will affect Big Bang’s upcoming shows. 

Big Bang is scheduled for a LG Mobile ‘mini-concert’ tomorrow. YG Entertainment, Daesung's agency, said Big Bang will be continuing with performances without Daesung for the time being.  

Frances Cha is the Seoul City Editor of CNNGo. 

 

Read more about Frances Cha
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