Comedian-turned-host MC Jangwon (Hong Jang-won, 45) has belatedly acknowledged a DUI and announced he is halting all activities.
On the night of the 18th, MC Jangwon posted a handwritten apology to the community tab of his YouTube channel, revealing he was pulled over at a DUI checkpoint on June 28. His blood alcohol content was 0.065%, a suspension-level reading under Korean law.
He said there was no accident or injuries and that he was alone, driving near his home when stopped. Legal proceedings are underway, and a final decision is expected in one to two months.
Hong also admitted he previously received a license suspension and a fine for a DUI in 2006.
“At the time, I didn’t truly grasp the gravity of what I’d done or reflect on it. That’s how I ended up making the same mistake again,” he wrote.
More than anything, he criticized himself for keeping the DUI hidden for about 50 days while continuing his YouTube and broadcast work, saying he “deceived viewers and colleagues.” He added, “By day I acted like nothing was wrong on air, and by night I couldn’t sleep because of the guilt. I kept quiet out of fear of coming clean, but the guilt wouldn’t let me.”
Taking responsibility, Hong said he will temporarily shut down his YouTube channel and his content brand “Jjal Show,” and suspend all broadcast activities.
“I’ll take an indefinite period to reflect,” he said, adding, “I’ll also look for a way to return the revenue from the past 50 days of broadcasts in some form.”
“This was entirely my own lapse in judgment,” he continued. “I didn’t tell my family, friends, or colleagues, which made them unwitting victims of my deception. Please direct all blame and criticism at me.”
MC Jangwon, part of SBS’s ninth class of comedians, has recently focused his work on YouTube and podcasts.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)