Comedian Lee Jin Ho gets prosecuted for illegal gambling
Korean comedian Lee Jin Ho, who borrowed money from celebrities like BTS’ Jimin for gambling activities, has been sent to prosecution on charges of illegal gambling.
Local media outlets TenAsia and Korean JoongAng Daily reported that Seoul Gangnam Police have sent Jin Ho to the prosecution on charges of illegal gambling.
Per the outlets, police say the comedian spent hundreds of millions of won on illegal online gambling platforms. To fund his activities, he loaned around KRW 2.3 billion (more than P90 million) from staff, network executives, and celebrities, including Young Tak, Lee Soo Geun, Wanna One's Ha Sung Woon, and BTS’ Jimin—who lent him around KRW 100 million (P4.2 million)—which he hasn’t able to repay.
However, he was not charged with fraud since the victims of his alleged scam didn’t provide any statements. The police are also investigating the gambling site that Jin Ho allegedly used.
On Oct. 14, 2024, Jin Ho admitted to his gambling, 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," and that he was "deeply embarrassed and sorry" and regrets his actions.
"I deeply apologize to everyone who was disappointed by my actions and my attempts to hide them," he concluded.
Following the controversy, he was scrapped from the variety show Knowing Bros, and did not attend the press conference for Netflix’s variety show Comedy Revenge.
Jin Ho is a South Korean comedian and entertainer who made his debut in the 2005 SBS' Find Your Lover. Since then, he has been a prominent figure in the Korean comedy scene.
