October 15 2024
By Jin Lee
On October 14, comedian Lee Jin-ho shocked the public by revealing his involvement in illegal gambling. He posted a lengthy apology on his personal Instagram, admitting to gambling illegally. Many were taken aback by his sudden revelation.
In his apology, Lee confessed that he began gambling on an illegal online site in 2020, which led to significant debt. He further admitted that he had received financial help from many people and pledged to repay the debts on his own.
However, his apology has drawn widespread criticism. It appears that his confession was prompted by media outlets obtaining evidence of his gambling and failure to repay debts to acquaintances. Critics argue that his apology was a preemptive move to soften the public backlash before the news broke, raising questions about his sincerity.
Following his post, entertainment outlet TenAsia reported that Lee had borrowed millions from various celebrities, including BTS's Jimin, trot singer Young Tak, fellow comedian Lee Soo-geun, as well as TV network executives, producers, and writers. Allegedly, he has failed to repay these loans. The outlet also contacted Lee’s agency, CMC&C, for confirmation of his illegal gambling and unpaid debts. It was revealed that his apology aimed to avoid potential legal consequences.
As a result of this scandal, Lee’s entertainment career is expected to decline sharply. Notably, he will be stepping down from the popular TV show Knowing Bros, where he had served as a regular panelist for three years.