BTS Jimin, Lee Soo Geun, and Ha Sung Woon Also Victimized…Comedian Lee Jin Ho Caused Financial Harm to Dozens of Celebrities
It has been revealed that BTS Jimin, Lee Soo Geun, and other celebrities suffered financial losses after being deceived by comedian Lee Jin Ho, who reportedly incurred billions of won in debt due to illegal gambling. Not only did he borrow money from fellow celebrities, but he also used loan sharks, exacerbating the problem. Some celebrities are planning to file fraud charges against him and apply for a provisional attachment of his appearance fees as Lee Jin Ho started asking his celebrity acquaintances for urgent financial support.
When asked about the financial damages caused by Lee Jin Ho’s illegal gambling, his agency, SM C&C, did not provide a comment. Shortly after the inquiry, Lee Jin Ho released a statement seemingly intended to avoid legal repercussions. He also abruptly canceled his appearance at the Netflix 'Comedy Revenge' press conference, which was scheduled for 11 a.m. today.
According to TenAsia’s report on the 14th, celebrities such as BTS Jimin, Young Tak, and Lee Soo Geun were deceived by Lee Jin Ho’s lies and lent him money amounting to billions of won. Some of the celebrities who lent him money without promissory notes are now facing heavy tax burdens, as the tax authorities classified the loans as "gifts" rather than loans.
BTS Jimin was also a victim. According to HYBE, Lee Jin Ho approached Jimin in 2022, claiming he needed urgent cash for just a week and borrowed 100 million won. While a promissory note was written, Lee Jin Ho failed to fulfill his obligations. Sources confirm that Jimin, recognizing that Lee Jin Ho had no intention of repaying, generously said, "Just pay me back within ten years." Despite this leniency, Lee Jin Ho’s misconduct spread to other celebrities.
In particular, he attempted to borrow money from the cast members of 'Knowing Bros', with Lee Soo Geun being a significant victim, losing at least tens of millions of won. Lee Jin Ho even exploited Lee Soo Geun's name to borrow money from his acquaintances. As a result, Lee Soo Geun faced substantial financial and emotional damage, even having to cover his acquaintances' debts in some cases.
Singer Ha Sung Woon was also among the victims. It has been revealed that Lee Jin Ho borrowed money from executives, producers, and writers at several broadcasting stations but did not repay the loans. The total damage is expected to grow.
Lee Jin Ho’s agency, SM C&C, was aware of the issue. Several creditors contacted the agency, demanding repayment. Despite this, the agency essentially turned a blind eye and allowed Lee Jin Ho to continue appearing in projects, including the Netflix series 'Comedy Revenge.' The management's negligence seems evident as the financial damages spread widely among celebrities.
When this publication inquired about the issue with SM C&C on the morning of the 14th, the agency did not respond, instead cutting off communication. Lee Jin Ho then hastily posted a statement on his social media, likely trying to garner sympathy. In the statement, he claimed to have repaid some of the money, but in reality, none of the major victims, such as BTS Jimin or Lee Soo Geun, had received their money back. His statement appears to be a tactic to avoid fraud charges by demonstrating his willingness to repay, a key factor in determining criminal intent in fraud cases.
Lee Jin Ho wrote on his social media, "In 2020, I started playing games on an illegal online gambling site by chance, and I ended up shouldering unbearable debts. After stern advice from my acquaintances and out of fear that I might never be able to work in this industry again, I managed to quit gambling. However, I had already received financial help from many people." He continued, "I have been steadily repaying the debts every month, and I plan to continue paying them off until the day I die. The financial loss is significant, but I am even more sorry to those who trusted me and lent me money."
He added, "I was terrified every time an unknown number called, thinking it was related to the debts, and I lived in fear, wondering when this would all become public. I sometimes thought that confessing everything and facing punishment might free me from this anxiety, but I also knew that I needed to keep working to pay off my debts. I was ashamed and sorry. I deeply regret the days I ruined with one wrong decision, and although I may never be a role model, I will strive to live a life where I am not pointed at with judgment." Lastly, he promised, "No matter what, I will repay the remaining debts. I deeply apologize to those disappointed by me, who only tried to hide my wrongdoings and caused social unrest. I will cooperate with the police investigation and accept the consequences of my mistakes."
Lee Jin Ho was scheduled to attend the Netflix variety show 'Comedy Revenge' press conference today, but he abruptly announced his absence.
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