The Korean entertainment industry has recently seen a series of celebrity drunk driving controversies, drawing significant public attention. Yesterday (November 14), actor Go Kyung-pyo (고경표) was involved in a drunk driving accident; police reported his blood alcohol content exceeded the limit for license revocation, and he collided with a street sweeper while driving. Following the incident, Super Junior member Kim Heechul's (김희철) past method for preventing drunk driving unexpectedly resurfaced: he simply chose not to drive at all, a commitment he has maintained for over 10 years.
In March, a video uploaded to Hong Jin-kyung's (홍진경) YouTube channel, '공부왕찐천재 홍진경' (Genius Hong Jin-kyung, the Study King), featured Hong praising Kim Heechul's impressive memory. Kim, however, admitted that as he gets older, he sometimes remembers things in fragments, which prompted him to remind himself, "I really can't drink too much alcohol."
When asked about his usual alcohol consumption, Kim Heechul candidly stated, "I really drink a lot." Hong Jin-kyung then asked him, "I heard you don't own a car because you're afraid of causing trouble after drinking. Is that true?" Kim nodded openly, revealing that he made an unconventional decision long ago to avoid drunk driving. "I just can't quit drinking, so if I can't quit drinking, then I'll just quit driving."
Kim Heechul explained that since he couldn't break his habit of drinking, he decided to eliminate the possibility of driving altogether, preventing himself from engaging in dangerous behavior after consuming alcohol. When Hong Jin-kyung exclaimed, "So that's why you don't have a car!" he confirmed again, "Yes, I don't have a car," adding that he has maintained this habit for over 10 years.
Super Junior itself has been significantly impacted by past drunk driving incidents involving its members. Kangin (강인) was involved in a hit-and-run drunk driving incident in 2009. After a period of reflection, he returned to activities, but in 2016, he was again involved in a drunk driving accident, ultimately leading to his departure from Super Junior in 2019.
Perhaps having witnessed firsthand the consequences of a teammate's drunk driving, Kim Heechul chose a different way to regulate himself. Instead of demanding complete abstinence from alcohol, he fundamentally removed driving from his life, drastically reducing the possibility of driving under the influence.
Now that this past revelation has resurfaced among netizens, many believe that it's better to proactively eliminate risks than to regret incidents after they occur. Kim Heechul's choice, maintained for over a decade, has once again garnered attention and is seen as a testament to his self-management throughout his 20-year career.
