Nam Tae-hyun on Drug Probation Does Something Even Worse—Now Under Police Investigation

Former WINNER member and singer Nam Tae-hyun is under police investigation after being caught drunk driving while still on probation for a previous drug offense.

According to police on May 8, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul has booked Nam on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and is currently investigating the case.

Nam allegedly caused an accident at approximately 4:10 a.m. KST on April 27 near Dongjak Bridge on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro expressway while attempting to overtake another vehicle. He crashed into the central guardrail. While no one was injured, his blood alcohol concentration was reportedly above the legal limit for license revocation (0.08%).

This is not Nam Tae-hyun’s first DUI offense. In July 2023, he was fined by the Seoul Central District Court for drunk driving in Gangnam, Seoul.

More seriously, in January 2024, Nam was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, by the Seoul Western District Court for methamphetamine use. Considering the latest incident occurred during his probation period, the police requested an arrest warrant on May 2. However, following a pre-trial detention hearing on May 7, the court denied the warrant. A police official stated, “We plan to refer Nam Tae-hyun to the prosecution soon after additional investigation.”

🎤 Performance Canceled Amid Growing Controversy

Nam Tae-hyun was originally scheduled to perform on May 6 at WestBridge Live Hall in Mapo, Seoul as part of the "K-Pop Week in Hongdae" event. However, on May 4, event organizers suddenly announced that Nam's performance had been canceled.

Comedian Yoon Hyung-bin, who was involved in planning the event, had previously expressed support for Nam, stating, “He’s been trying to do better, reflecting on his past, and was truly eager to return to the stage. I offered this opportunity in hopes it could help him, even just a little.”

However, even before news of the latest DUI broke, the decision to include Nam in the lineup had already sparked public controversy.

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