He is still a minor, yet this is already his second violation of the Road Traffic Act. Singer Jeong Dong-won (18) has once again become the center of controversy following illegal motorcycle riding and now driving without a license.
On the 11th, it was revealed that Jeong Dong-won is under investigation by the prosecution for driving a vehicle without a license in Hadong, Gyeongnam in 2023. At that time, Jeong Dong-won was only 16 years old, which is below the age to obtain a driver's license.
According to Article 82 of the Road Traffic Act, one can obtain a driver's license, including a Class 1 general license, starting at the age of 18. Driving a vehicle without a license can result in a maximum of 10 months in prison or a fine of 3 million won.
The background of Jeong Dong-won's driving without a license being revealed later is due to a video taken at the time. He filed a complaint after being threatened by three individuals who demanded money for possessing a video of him driving without a license, which was on his mobile phone.
The police arrested all three suspects and retrieved the mobile phone to begin an investigation, and they reported that Jeong Dong-won's driving without a license was confirmed, subsequently handing the case over to the prosecution in June of the same year.
Upon the revelation of these facts, Jeong Dong-won admitted to driving without a license and apologized.
His agency, Showplay, stated, "Jeong Dong-won practiced driving for about 10 minutes on mountain roads near his hometown in Hadong, and there was a passenger who filmed the incident," adding, "He deeply regrets and reflects on the mistake of practicing driving without a license."
They continued, "We will do our best to manage and educate our artists to grow into more mature and responsible members of society. We will also thoroughly guide them to prevent such unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future."
Jeong Dong-won's fans also took a stand. The Jeong Dong-won fandom issued a statement saying, "This incident is a mistake that cannot be justified for any reason. Jeong Dong-won made a reckless decision during his minor years, and that behavior deserves criticism," adding, "Love and support for the artist do not exempt him from legal responsibility. We strongly demand prevention of recurrence and a mature attitude."
Although the agency and fandom emphasized thorough guidance and prevention of recurrence, public opinion is not favorable. This is already Jeong Dong-won's second violation of the Road Traffic Act. In March 2023, he received a suspended indictment for driving a motorcycle on the Dongbu Expressway in Seoul, where motorcycle traffic is prohibited.
Jeong Dong-won has been active in broadcasting since childhood. He gained attention as a "trot prodigy" after appearing in shows like "National Singing Contest," "Talent Discovery Team," and "Human Theater" starting in 2018, and rose to stardom by placing 5th in the trot audition program "Mr. Trot" at the age of 13 in 2020. Since then, he has been active in various fields, including concerts and music releases as his alter ego, K-pop idol JD1.
Having watched Jeong Dong-won since such a young age, some defended him during the illegal motorcycle riding incident, saying, "He is a minor, so he could make mistakes; let's give him another chance." However, violating the Road Traffic Act twice has shocked and disappointed the public. Moreover, it was driving without a license.
His legal representative stated, "He drove just once out of curiosity," but it is questionable whether such behavior, which can be seen as a crime, can be dismissed as mere curiosity of a boy. The final decision will be up to the law, but it seems that the image of "Jeong Dong-won" as a cute boy singing trot will no longer come to mind.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
