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Read Full BioThe leading South Korean comedian, actor, and TV personality Lee Jin-ho has been charged with gambling law violations, with police claiming he borrowed over $1.6 million from celebrity friends. Officers think he spent most of the money in online casinos.
Per the media outlet Newsis, Lee has made a confession to police officers, who have handed his case over to prosecutors.
South Korean Comedian: Prosecutors to Indict Lee?
This follows Lee’s own social media confession, published on October 14 last year. Lee told his followers his gambling habits had spiralled out of control.
The comedian explained: “I started playing games on an illegal internet gambling site by chance in 2020. And I ended up with a level of debt that I found difficult to cope with.”
Most forms of gambling are prohibited in South Korea, which has some of the world’s strictest gaming regulations.
Police in the affluent Seoul district of Gangnam investigated Lee in October last year after an unnamed acquaintance filed an official complaint.
The complainant wrote: “The police should launch a thorough investigation into Lee. He is a habitual gambler and a fraudster. The police should ensure that criminals do not run rampant in the world of art and pop culture.”
Media outlets have claimed that Lee borrowed money from several fellow stars, including BTS member Jimin and pop star Ha Woon.
Oulets also reported that Lee had duped fellow celebrities into giving him money by claiming that his family members were ill or that he needed help with tax issues.
Lee added: “I have been paying off the money steadily every month. And I plan to pay off this debt, on my own, until I die.”
The star added that, as a public figure, he had deep regrets about his poor decisions and the damage he had caused. He said: “No matter what happens, I intend to repay all my outstanding debts.”
Lee Puts Entertainment Career on Hold
The comedian has withdrawn from several TV shows since October last year. He has appeared in drama series such as King of the Land (2023) and hosted variety TV shows such as Full Profiler and Mysterious Pawnshop.
South Korea’s National Gambling Control Commission says the illegal gambling sector has grown in recent years.
According to its most recent data, the size of the underground casino and betting network grew by 24% from 2019 to 2022.
The commission claims that it is also receiving more anonymous tips from the public, alerting it to new illegal casinos targeting South Korean gamers.
Most legal South Korean casinos only allow foreign passport holders to place bets. Regulators have, however, made a few exceptions. These include LetsRun Park Seoul, a horse racing track in Southern Seoul, and the Kangwon Land casino in Gangwon Province.
