Comedian Lee Jin-ho Admits to Illegal Gambling, Faces Billions in Debt and Fraud Allegations
Oct 14, 2024
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On the 14th, Lee Jin-ho publicly admitted to illegal gambling and revealed that he had accumulated unmanageable debt. The scale of this debt, which amounts to billions of won, is gradually being exposed, and it is expected to cause considerable public uproar.
SBS News 8 reported, "Lee Jin-ho is said to have borrowed more than 1 billion won from celebrities alone. The broadcaster is already seeing signs of fallout," suggesting that the controversy is only beginning to unfold.
In addition, Lee Jin-ho was sued for fraud by an acquaintance for borrowing money and failing to repay it. The complaint was initially filed at Goyang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province in early June. However, the case was transferred to Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, where Lee Jin-ho resides.
At that time, it was confirmed that Lee Jin-ho had borrowed tens of millions of won from an acquaintance, even though he lacked the means to repay it. However, the victim withdrew the complaint after reaching an agreement early last month, leading to the case being closed by the police. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the money was borrowed to fund his illegal gambling activities.
Earlier, Ten Asia reported that Lee Jin-ho had taken out a 1.3 billion won loan without collateral from a lending company. He requested the loan from the company's CEO, assuring that he would repay it within a week. Trusting in Lee Jin-ho’s celebrity status and reputation, the company granted the loan. However, as the debt remained unpaid for years, the company's demands grew, and Lee Jin-ho only recently contacted them, stating that he would find a way to pay off the debt.
On the 14th, Lee Jin-ho confessed through his social media account, admitting to both illegal gambling and the substantial debt he had incurred.
There have been reports that Lee Jin-ho borrowed 100 million won from BTS’s Jimin, claiming it was for urgent payments. He also borrowed tens of millions of won from acquaintances of fellow comedian Lee Soo-geun, which ultimately led to Lee Soo-geun repaying the debt on his behalf. Celebrities close to Lee Jin-ho, including Youngtak and Ha Sung-woon, also lent him money, while various broadcasting executives, producers, and writers have reportedly suffered financial losses due to him. As a result, the number of victims is expected to increase.
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According to the video, Lee Jin-ho became acquainted with a businessman through mutual friends in 2018–2019 and invested all his assets into a business venture, even encouraging acquaintances to make significant investments. Both he and his acquaintances lost large sums, though Lee Jin-ho is said to have repaid much of the money his acquaintances lost. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he stayed at home and began gambling online, eventually turning to loan sharks.
YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, seeking redemption, pleaded, “The only way the victims can recover from the damage is if I return to broadcasting work.”
Currently, Lee Jin-ho is residing in a one-room officetel in Gyeonggi Province, having sold off all his assets.
In a lengthy social media post, Lee Jin-ho further admitted, "In 2020, I stumbled upon an illegal gambling site online and incurred a debt I couldn’t manage. I’m deeply ashamed. I’m sorry."
lyn@sportschosun.com
