Singer Kim Jang-hoon fined for in-flight smoking

Published : Mar 15, 2015 - 10:36 Updated : Mar 15, 2015 - 10:37

(Yonhap)

South Korean pop singer Kim Jang-hoon, who is known for philanthropy, has been fined for smoking aboard a home-bound plane from France in December, a local court said Sunday.

The Incheon District Court said Kim will have to pay 1 million won ($878) for smoking inside a lavatory on a Korean Air flight to Incheon International Airport from Charles de Gaulle Airport on Dec. 15. Otherwise, he will have to complete 10 days of manual labor, it added.

The 50-year-old was summarily indicted in January on charges of violating South Korea's aviation safety law.

He reportedly told authorities he was "under a lot of stress" after his scheduled performance was canceled.

Prosecutors said they wouldn't put Kim on trial since he was a first-time offender and apologized immediately after being caught.

Kim made a public apology via social media after the news of his offense went viral.

"I don't think there's any excuse for my behavior," he said in a Facebook post. "I'm sorry for doing what I did." (Yonhap)