A video entitled was released on October 14th “Shocking exclusive! Lee Soo-geun’s reaction to lending money… listening to Lee Jin-ho’s thoughts” was uploaded to former entertainment journalist Lee Jin-ho’s YouTube channel, shedding light on the comedian’s recent struggles with gambling addiction.
The video delves into 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 convinced by a businessman to invest and subsequently recommended the opportunity to his acquaintances. Initially, the investments brought profits, but ultimately failed, resulting in significant losses not only for Lee Jin-ho but also for those he 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 turn to illegal online gambling. His addiction reportedly became serious, with Lee Jin-ho habitually playing at home after finishing broadcasts. The situation worsened to the point that he began borrowing money from loan sharks. Despite receiving financial assistance from acquaintances, his debts continued to increase.
The entertainment president reports that Lee Jin-ho has now liquidated all his assets and is living in a one-room office in Gyeonggi Province. He rarely ventures out except for broadcast recordings.
Amid this turmoil, Lee Soo-geun, a fellow comedian, reportedly advised Lee Jin-ho, “You may lose money, but you don’t lose the people around you.”
On the same day as the video’s release, Lee Jin-ho confessed his involvement in illegal gambling on his personal account. He stated, “In 2020, I accidentally fell into illegal online gambling and got into unmanageable debt,” adding that he is still in the process of repaying what he owes. He underlined his commitment, saying: “I will pay 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 is reported that his private loans alone amount to a staggering 1.3 billion won (about $975,000).
Source: Wikitree
