Second DUI Incident Revealed

On August 18, Hong posted a handwritten letter and a long statement on the community page of his YouTube channel "MJang Project," apologizing for his actions. He revealed that on June 28, he was caught in a DUI checkpoint near his home. No accident or injuries occurred, but his blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.065%, which falls under license suspension in Korea.

"I am currently undergoing legal proceedings, with the final outcome expected in one to two months," he wrote. "There can be no excuse or justification for drunk driving—it is an undeniable crime, and yet I committed it."

Acknowledging Past Offense and Delay in Confession

Hong also recalled a prior offense from 2006, when he was fined and had his license suspended. "Back then, I was too immature to fully grasp the seriousness of my crime," he admitted. He further confessed that his greater mistake this time was continuing his broadcasts for over 50 days without disclosing the incident.

Fear and Hiatus Announcement

Explaining his delay, Hong said he feared betraying fans, facing public criticism, and impacting the livelihood of his staff and collaborators. He concluded by announcing an indefinite break: "I will shut down my channel and suspend all broadcasting activities. I will spend this time reflecting and find ways to return any profits earned from my activities over the past 50 days."

Hong Jang-won debuted as part of SBS's 9th class of comedians. Beyond comedy, he achieved success in event hosting and currently runs the podcast "MJang Project."