Super Junior member Kangin under probe for drunk driving

May 24, 2016
Kangin, a member of boy band Super Junior, poses during an event marking the release of a new song at a press conference in Seoul in this photo taken on July 15, 2015. (Yonhap)

Kangin, a member of boy band Super Junior, poses during an event marking the release of a new song at a press conference in Seoul in this photo taken on July 15, 2015. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — Police said Tuesday that they are investigating a drunk-driving case involving Kangin, a member of South Korean boy band Super Junior who already disappointed his fans some seven years ago for driving while intoxicated.

The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul said the star has been booked on charges of violating the Road Traffic Law. He was not detained.

Investigators said that at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, his rented Mercedes-Benz car collided with a street lamp in front of a convenience store in southern Seoul. The lamp was broken, but no one was injured.

The singer admitted to the charge of driving under the influence, the police said.

A source said that a blood alcohol concentration test, conducted by the police, has indicated that he was drunk at the time of the collision to the extent that calls for his driver’s license to be revoked.

In October 2009, Kangin was caught for drunk driving, which drew criticism from the public.

S.M. Entertainment, his management agency, said the boy band member will be suspended from all activities as a singer and entertainer.

“Kangin deeply regrets this, and will suspend all of his activities as well as have a period of time off for repentance,” S.M., South Korea’s largest entertainment company, said in a statement.

“He was questioned today, and we once again apologize for causing concerns,” it added.