Nam Tae Hyun, a former member of the K-pop boy band WINNER, is once again at the center of controversy for charges related to driving under the influence and drug use.
On Thursday, the Yongsan Police Department in Seoul announced that Nam had been booked on charges of drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act.
The incident occurred around 4:10 a.m. on April 27, when Nam, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, crashed into a median divider near Dongjak Bridge on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro highway heading toward Ilsan. His blood alcohol concentration at the time exceeded 0.08%, the legal threshold for license revocation.
Although the accident fortunately caused no injuries, the issue has sparked public outrage as Nam is currently serving a suspended sentence. The police requested a detention warrant, but the court rejected it.
This case has resurfaced Nam’s past remarks about his determination to change. He had previously received a suspended sentence for drunk driving and methamphetamine use, during which he publicly vowed to “become a different person.”
In September 2023, Nam reflected on his past on a YouTube channel, saying he was ashamed of his actions. Describing himself as a “musician who had lost his character, a womanizer, and a mess who turned to alcohol and drugs under the guise of making music,” he expressed deep regret. He apologized to disappointed fans and those around him, saying he was still alive to take responsibility for his choices.
He also stated that he would live with remorse and work hard as long as he could, adding that he hoped to serve as a warning to others not to make the same mistakes. However, this latest incident has cast serious doubt on the sincerity of those pledges, and public disappointment continues to grow.
In July 2023, Nam was also issued a summary order to pay a fine of approximately $4,280 for driving under the influence in Seoul’s Gangnam District. In 2024, he was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for methamphetamine use.
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