On October 14th, a video titled “Shocking Exclusive! Lee Soo-geun’s Reaction to Lending Money… Hearing Lee Jin-ho’s Thoughts” was uploaded to the former entertainment reporter Lee Jin-ho’s YouTube channel, shedding light on the comedian’s recent struggles with gambling addiction.
The video delves into the background of how Lee Jin-ho fell into gambling, revealing that a failed investment was the catalyst for his downward spiral. Between 2018 and 2019, Lee Jin-ho was persuaded by a businessman to invest, and he subsequently recommended the opportunity to his acquaintances. Initially, the investments yielded profits, but they eventually failed, resulting in significant losses not only for Lee Jin-ho but also for those he had encouraged to invest. Feeling morally obligated, Lee Jin-ho attempted to compensate his acquaintances for their losses, which led to severe financial difficulties.
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to stay at home, Lee Jin-ho found himself with more free time, which unfortunately led him to engage in illegal online gambling. His addiction reportedly became serious, with Lee Jin-ho habitually gambling at home after finishing broadcasts. The situation escalated to the point where he began borrowing money from loan sharks. Despite receiving financial assistance from acquaintances, his debts continued to mount.
The Entertainment President reports that Lee Jin-ho has now liquidated all his assets and is living in a single-room officetel in Gyeonggi Province. He rarely ventures out except for broadcast recordings.
Amidst this turmoil, Lee Soo-geun, a fellow comedian, reportedly advised Lee Jin-ho, “You may lose money, but don’t lose the people around you.”
On the same day as the video’s release, Lee Jin-ho took to his personal account to confess to his involvement in illegal gambling. He stated, “In 2020, I fell into illegal online gambling by chance and incurred an unmanageable debt,” adding that he is still in the process of repaying what he owes. He emphasized his commitment, saying, “I will pay off this debt by my own efforts until I die.”
The report mentions several celebrities from whom Lee Jin-ho allegedly borrowed money, including BTS member Jimin, Lee Soo-geun, and Ha Sung-woon. It was reported that his private loans alone amount to a staggering 1.3 billion won (approximately 975,000 USD).
Source: Wikitree
