인기 예능프로그램 MBC '무한도전'에 출연 중인 방송인 노홍철(35)씨가 음주운전을 하다 경찰에 적발됐다.
8일 서울 강남경찰서에 따르면 노씨는 전날 오후 11시 55분께 강남구 논현동 서울세관사거리 인근에서 술을 마시고 자신의 벤츠 스마트 승용차를 운전하다 단속에 적발됐다.
경찰은 노씨가 1차 음주 측정을 거부했으며, 노씨의 요구로 2차 측정 대신 채혈을 한 뒤 국립과학수사연구원에 감정을 의뢰했다고 밝혔다.
경찰 관계자는 "당시 만취 상태는 아니었지만 어느 정도 술 냄새가 나는 상태였다고 한다"며 "정확한 혈중알코올농도가 확인되는 대로 노씨를 불러 조사한 뒤 처벌 수위를 결정할 방침"이라고 말했다. (연합)
TV celebrity quits major programs after being booked for drunken driving
Comedian and TV show host No Hong-chul on Saturday apologized for driving under the influence of alcohol and offered to leave two popular TV reality shows he is now appearing in to take time to reflect on himself.
The move came after he was booked without detention Friday night for drunken driving in southern Seoul. Police said they took a blood sample and sent it to the National Forensic Service for assessment as he refused to take a sobriety test.
The test result has yet to be released.
"I sincerely apologize for causing troubles to you for driving under the influence of alcohol. I'm really sorry for disappointing many of you who supported me by making a bad decision," the 35-year-old comedian said through MBC.
"So, I'm expressing my intent to leave the TV programs that I'm currently appearing in," he said. "This is my own decision to cause no further trouble to (the programs') viewers."
No is one of the six hosts of the popular reality show "Infinite Challenge" that has been aired by MBC since 2006.
He is also the single host of another of the channel's reality shows, "I Live Alone."
Confirming his resignation, MBC said it began working to remove filmed scenes in which No appears in upcoming episodes of the programs. (Yonhap)
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