Comedian Lee Jin Ho Confesses To Illegal Gambling

Comedian Lee Jin Ho has confessed to illegal gambling and the significant debt it has caused him.

On October 14, Lee Jin Ho released the following statement via his official Instagram:

Hello, I am Lee Jin Ho.

I am writing to confess my shameful past, which resulted from my poor judgment.

In 2020, I started playing games on an illegal online gambling site, leading to overwhelming debt. After receiving stern advice from friends and fearing I might lose the job I love, I finally realized the seriousness of the situation and was able to quit gambling. However, by that time, I had already sought financial help from many people.

I am steadily repaying the money each month and plan to pay off this debt in full. While the financial loss is significant, I feel the deepest regret for those who trusted me and lent me money. Whenever I received a call from an unknown number, my heart raced, fearing it was related to my debt. Each day was a struggle against the anxiety of when this situation would become public.

I thought that confessing everything and facing the consequences might free me from this anxiety. However, since I needed to work to repay my debt, I questioned whether that thought was simply my own greed, which prevented me from making a decision.

I am deeply embarrassed and sorry. I sincerely regret the days I lost sight of my responsibilities as a public figure and tarnished my reputation with a moment of poor judgment. Even if I cannot become a good role model for others, I will work hard to avoid being someone who is criticized.

Lastly, I promise to repay the remaining debt no matter what. I sincerely apologize to those I disappointed by causing a social controversy and trying to hide it. I will fully cooperate with the police investigation and accept the consequences of my actions.

I am truly sorry.

Following the reports, a source from JTBC shared a brief statement regarding comedian Lee Jin Ho’s participation on his program “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”). They stated, “After hearing news of Lee Jin Ho’s illegal gambling, the production team of ‘Knowing Bros’ is carefully examining the relevant details. We will issue a separate statement with specific details including our stance once it is organized.”

Although Lee Jin Ho was also scheduled to attend the press conference for Netflix’s new variety program “Comedy Revenge,” he has canceled his appearance.

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