When South Korean singer Kim Ho-jung walked out of prison this week after serving more than two years for a drunk-driving crash, the case drew fresh attention to a hard truth every driver should understand: an impaired-driving arrest that involves an injury and a decision to flee is not an ordinary traffic ticket. It is a felony-level event with consequences that can stretch for years. The specifics of Korean law differ from ours, but the underlying fact pattern — drinking, a collision, fleeing, and covering it up — maps directly onto some of the most serious driving offenses on the books in Texas.

What Happened

According to Biz Chosun, Kim Ho-jung, 35, was released on parole on June 30, 2026, roughly two years and one month after being imprisoned. The reporting describes a May 9, 2024 crash in the Gangnam District of Seoul in which Kim drove after drinking, crossed the centerline, and collided with an oncoming taxi before fleeing the scene. Prosecutors said his manager was sent to turn himself in on Kim's behalf, and that others removed a dashcam memory card in an attempt to erase evidence of the drunk driving. He was indicted on charges including causing injury by dangerous driving, sentenced to two years and six months in prison, and released about five months early after a parole review.

This article is L & L Law Group's general legal commentary on a national news story. We do not represent anyone involved, we have no inside knowledge of this case, and nothing here is a statement of fact about any individual. Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

How Texas Treats Drunk Driving That Causes Injury

In Texas, a standard first-offense DWI under Penal Code § 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor. But the moment someone is seriously hurt, the exposure changes dramatically. Under Penal Code § 49.07, intoxication assault — causing serious bodily injury to another person while driving intoxicated — is a third-degree felony punishable by two to ten years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. If a death results, intoxication manslaughter under § 49.08 is a second-degree felony carrying two to 20 years. A crash like the one described, with an injured occupant of another vehicle, is exactly the kind of event that pushes a case out of misdemeanor territory and into a Texas felony courtroom.

Leaving the Scene: Failure to Stop and Render Aid

Fleeing after a crash adds an entirely separate charge in Texas. Under Transportation Code §§ 550.021 and 550.023, a driver involved in an accident involving injury must stop, provide identifying information, and render reasonable aid. Failure to stop and render aid (often called "hit and run") when someone is injured can itself be a third-degree felony — meaning a driver can face one felony for the intoxication assault and a second felony simply for leaving. Texas courts treat flight as an aggravating factor, both legally and in the eyes of a jury.

Tampering With Evidence

The allegation that others removed a dashcam card to hide the drinking would raise a further serious offense in Texas. Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence under Penal Code § 37.09 is generally a third-degree felony, and it can apply not only to the driver but to anyone who alters, destroys, or conceals evidence knowing an investigation is underway. Sending someone else to take the blame could also implicate false-report and obstruction statutes. In other words, the cover-up can end up being prosecuted as harshly as the crash itself.

Defenses and Process in a Texas DWI-Injury Case

A strong defense starts with the science and the stop. Was there reasonable suspicion for the initial stop and probable cause for the arrest? Were field sobriety tests administered and scored correctly? Was the blood or breath sample collected, stored, and tested according to protocol, with a valid warrant where required? On the injury element, the defense examines whether the State can prove intoxication actually caused the injury rather than some other factor. Because these cases carry felony exposure and a potential driver's-license revocation through a separate administrative proceeding, early intervention by counsel is critical.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Texas DWI become a felony?

Common triggers include a third DWI, a DWI with a child passenger, intoxication assault (serious injury), and intoxication manslaughter (death). A first or second DWI with no injury is usually a misdemeanor.

Is leaving the scene really a separate felony?

Yes. Failure to stop and render aid after an injury accident can be charged as a third-degree felony under the Transportation Code, entirely separate from any DWI or intoxication-assault charge.

What happens if someone hides or destroys evidence?

Tampering with physical evidence under Penal Code § 37.09 is typically a third-degree felony and can be charged against anyone who conceals or destroys evidence knowing an investigation is or will be underway — not just the driver.

Can I lose my license even before a conviction?

Yes. Texas runs a separate Administrative License Revocation process. You generally have only 15 days after a DWI arrest to request a hearing to contest an automatic suspension, which is why acting quickly matters.

How L & L Law Group Can Help

A DWI that involves an injury, a departure from the scene, or any hint of hidden evidence can stack multiple felonies onto what began as one bad decision. At L & L Law Group, PLLC, we challenge the stop, the testing, and the causation evidence, protect your driving privileges through the administrative process, and work to keep a single incident from becoming several felony convictions. If you or a loved one is facing a DWI, intoxication-assault, or failure-to-stop charge in Frisco, Collin County, or anywhere in the DFW area, call us at (972) 370-5060 for a confidential consultation.

By Reggie London and Njeri London.