South Korean actor Ko Kyung-pyo (고경표) has publicly admitted to drunk driving and apologized after colliding with a street sweeper. The incident has led to renewed online discussion as photos and videos of him drinking with an internet broadcaster (BJ) from six years ago have resurfaced.
Ko’s agency, CL&Company, issued an official statement today (November 14), first apologizing to those affected by the accident and then to fans who have consistently trusted and supported Ko.
The agency confirmed that Ko was driving under the influence in the early hours of today when his vehicle collided with a street sweeper. His blood alcohol content measured above the legal limit for license revocation in South Korea. The company stated that Ko has completed police investigations and returned home, expressing deep remorse for his actions. He will comply with all subsequent penalties and diligently fulfill his responsibilities, including accident resolution and damage repair.
As news of the DUI spread, past photos of Ko at a drinking establishment were unexpectedly unearthed by netizens. According to South Korean media reports, Ko was photographed with internet broadcaster “Ssehi” (쎄히), whose real name is Lee Hyo-jung (이효정), in August 2020. At the time, she posted photos and short videos of the two on social media, with captions such as “Is oppa drunk?” which garnered significant attention.
In the video, Ko is seen sitting next to her, smiling and winking at the camera, with the two appearing to interact naturally. Since the photos and videos were released during the pandemic, when South Korea was experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and social distancing measures were highly emphasized, questions were raised about whether Ko had visited an entertainment venue for drinks.
However, at the time, Ko’s agency clarified that he had gone to his agency after finishing a drama shoot and then had drinks with someone at a nearby general restaurant and bar. He merely accepted a request for a photo. The agency emphasized that the photos were taken at a regular restaurant, not an entertainment venue, and that Ko had no private relationship with the woman.
The internet broadcaster also personally explained at the time that she had simply met Ko by chance and, as a fan, asked him for a photo, which he kindly agreed to. She revealed that she had asked beforehand if she could upload the photos to social media, and Ko had consented, which is why she made them public.
She also disclosed the location where the photos were taken and urged the public to refrain from over-interpreting or making baseless speculations, emphasizing that the entire incident stemmed from her feelings as a fan and hoping that related attacks would cease.
Now that Ko is back in the news for the DUI incident, the six-year-old photos and videos have been re-examined, bringing past controversies back into the spotlight. However, these old photos pertain to a past event and are not directly related to the current drunk driving accident.
Meanwhile, Ko currently has several variety shows awaiting broadcast or airing, including tvN’s “Sixth Sense: B-Side” (식스센스: B-Side) and MBC’s “Hangout with Yoo” (놀면 뭐하니?). Additionally, he participated in tvN’s “The Great Escape 2” (대탈출2), scheduled to premiere on November 29, and TVING’s “The Great Escape: Urban Ghost Story” (대탈출: 도시괴담) set for release on December 2. With the DUI incident now public, the future broadcast and editing arrangements for these programs have become a focus of public attention.
