BTS’s Jimin loses millions to Lee Jin Ho due to comedian's gambling debt
BIGHIT MUSIC has addressed the financial losses suffered by BTS’s Jimin after he lent money to comedian Lee Jin Ho, who is struggling with gambling-related debts.
Tenasia reported that BTS’s Jimin, Young Tak, Lee Soo Geun, Wanna One's Ha Sung Woon, as well as producers, writers, and executives from different broadcasting stations, loaned money to Jin Ho under the promise of repayment.
According to media outlets, Jimin lent around KRW 100 million (P4.2 million) to the comedian in 2022. At that time, Jin Ho promised to return the money in a week. When Jin Ho didn't repay the loan within a week as promised, Jimin said to pay him back within 10 years.
BIGHIT Music briefly commented on the issue, saying, “Jimin indeed suffered financial damage. All he did was write a promissory note and lent it to Lee Jin Ho.”
Reports said that some celebrities provided loans to the actor without formal agreements. These loans have been reclassified as "gifts" by tax authorities, which could result in tax implications for the lenders.
Some individuals, however, have reportedly filed fraud charges against Jin Ho and are seeking to recover their appearance fees through legal action.
On Oct. 14, comedian Jin Ho admitted that he had a gambling addiction which resulted in debts after seeking "financial help from many people," including Jimin.
“In 2020, I started playing games on an illegal online gambling site by chance, and I ended up shouldering unbearable debts,” Jin Ho wrote in his social media post.
He said he is "steadily repaying the money each month" and plans "to pay off this debt in full."
Jin Ho added he is "deeply embarrassed and sorry" and regrets his actions.
"Every day felt like I was being punished, wondering when this would become public. I thought about confessing everything and facing the consequences to relieve the anxiety, but I hesitated because I needed to continue working to pay off my debts," he said.
"I deeply apologize to everyone who was disappointed by my actions and my attempts to hide them," he concluded.
Jin Ho's removal from Netflix shows
Following this, Korean media outlets have reported that the JTBC production team is reviewing the situation and will provide an update. Jin Ho will also no longer be part of the Netflix show Knowing Bros starting from this week's recording.
Knowing Bros announced: “Lee Jin Ho will leave the program starting with this week’s recording. We will edit out as much of his previously filmed content as possible.”
Additionally, Jin Ho was supposed to attend the press event for Netflix’s upcoming variety show Comedy Revenge, but he has since reportedly pulled out of the appearance.
"We are deeply disappointed to learn about this just a day before the show’s premiere. Comedy Revenge, like all our content, is a result of the dedication and hard work of not only the comedians but also the hundreds of staff and crew working behind the scenes,” Netflix said in a statement.
The streaming giant added that due to the show's team-based format, it is challenging to fully remove specific teams from the editing process.
Jin Ho's agency, SM C&C, has not provided any statements about the issue.
Jin Ho, a South Korean comedian and entertainer, made his debut in the 2005 SBS' Find Your Lover. Since then, he has been a prominent figure in the Korean comedy scene.