Kwon Sang-woo indicted for hit-and-run accident 2 wks ago

Published on 2010/06/25 | Source

Korean actor kwon Sang-woo [Asia Economic Daily]

The police have booked Korean actor kwon Sang-woo without physical detention for a hit-and-run accident that happened two weeks ago.

According to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Thursday, the actor had been driving on the wrong side of the road near Cheongdam-dong on June 12, around 2:55 a.m. and collided into a parked car when he was discovered by the police.

He then ran his car into the police vehicle trying to back out from the collision and drove away for about 300 meters before hitting a flowerbed. He abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene.

Kwon showed up at the police station two days later and underwent investigation for the accident.

He reportedly told the authorities, "The police car was following me and I got scared... I was not drunk driving".

He was only charged for the hit-and-run since the police could not check his alcohol level at the time of the accident.

Meanwhile, Kwon's agency released a press release on Friday, explaining that Kwon's car had "slipped in the rain and collided into a parked car" and ran into the police vehicle while he was backing up his car to take necessary means to take care of the accident.

Kwon was trying to park his car in front of the wedding hall where the accident occurred, but hit a flowerbed in the parking lot. He then panicked and left the scene, but a source close to Kwon later showed up and admitted the accident.

The agency added that Kwon is "deeply regretting his mistake due to poor driving and his leaving the scene".

Kwon has starred in several notable television dramas and films including "My Tutor Friend" (2003) and "Love So Divine" (2004).

His most famous role to date however, was in the 2003 TV series "Stairway to Heaven", which co-starred another Hallyu star Choi Ji-woo and became a smash hit throughout Asia.

He currently stars in the film "71-Into the Fire", which is based on the true story of 71 student soldiers who fought during the Korean War.