[강일홍의 클로즈업] ‘Celebrity gambling’ emerges again, a ‘black hole’ scarier than drugs: ZUM News

Lee Jin-ho, after self-confessing to gambling debts, leaves the broadcast and becomes ‘practically expelled’
About 10 years ago, Kim Yong-man, Lee Soo-geun, Andy Tony An, etc. were caught for ‘habitual gambling’

The controversy is growing after it became known that broadcaster Lee Jin-ho borrowed a large amount of money and squandered it on gambling. The total amount of money he borrowed from acquaintances amounts to 1 billion won, and the money he borrowed from loan companies exceeds 1.3 billion won. /The Fact DB

[더팩트ㅣ강일홍 기자] An entertainer who was active on television recently came under public scrutiny with the news that he had become addicted to gambling and was in large debt. Comedian Lee Jin-ho, who indulged in illegal Internet gambling, suffered great losses as he was unable to repay money he borrowed from fellow celebrities. The controversy grew as it became known that a large amount of money had been borrowed from a lending company. It is said that he first tried his hand at gambling four years ago.

“In 2020, by chance, I started playing games on an illegal internet gambling site, and ended up taking on debt that was difficult to bear. Due to the harsh advice of my acquaintances and the fear that I might not be able to do this job I love again, I came to my senses belatedly and gave up gambling. “I was able to take it off, but I had already received financial help from many people.” (Lee Jin-ho’s SNS confession)

[강일홍의 클로즈업] ‘Celebrity gambling’ emerges again, a ‘black hole’ scarier than drugs: ZUM News

After Lee Jin-ho’s illegal gambling became known, sparks immediately flew in the broadcast program he was appearing on. The CNBLUE episode of JTBC’s ‘Knowing Bros’ had Jinho Lee completely edited out. /JTBC ‘Knowing Brothers’

◆ Self-confessed to ‘unmanageable situation’ after reports of illegal gambling and borrowing from loan companies

The total amount of money Lee Jin-ho borrowed from people around him, including celebrities, reached 1 billion won, and the amount he borrowed from loan companies amounted to over 1.3 billion won. Those who borrowed money even included broadcasting station executives, producers, and writers. I borrowed 100 million won from BTS’ Jimin, and I also borrowed tens of millions of won from senior comedian Lee Soo-geun, who is appearing on JTBC’s ‘Knowing Brothers’, and singers Young Tak and Ha Sung-woon.

It was confirmed that Lee Jin-ho borrowed money quickly under the pretext of family and taxes and used it mostly for illegal gambling. This immediately sparked a firestorm on the broadcast program he was appearing on. The CNBLUE episode of ‘Knowing Bros’ that aired immediately after had Lee Jin-ho completely edited out. The negative image that may have been inflicted on the program was quickly removed, and in effect, it means that the program is about to be kicked out of the broadcasting industry.

In the case of celebrities, gambling is not limited to just themselves, but often causes greater harm to those around them. The photo is from the production presentation of ‘Chain Reaction’, in which Lee Jin-ho appeared. Singer Zico, actress Yoo In-na, Brave Girls’ Yu-jeong, and comedian Lee Jin-ho (from left).

◆ Most of the money borrowed money as an excuse, such as family and tax matters, and wasted on illegal gambling.
An issue that comes up every now and then is gambling in the entertainment industry. About 10 years ago, in 2013, Kim Yong-man, Lee Soo-geun, Tony An and Andy caused a stir when they were caught for illegal sports gambling. They were all prosecuted and had to stop broadcasting for a while. Some of them try to come back after some time or succeed in making a comeback, but they still face negative public opinion.

In 2010, singers Lee Seong-jin, Shin Hye-sung, and Lee Ji-hoon were convicted of gambling away in Macau, and in 2009, Kang Byeong-gyu and Kim Jun-ho were convicted of habitual Internet gambling and overseas gambling, respectively. Shin Jeong-hwan was on the chopping block three times while traveling between Kangwon Land and the Philippines. Among them, Shin Jeong-hwan received further criticism after falsely explaining that he was hospitalized with dengue fever when he was embroiled in an away gambling controversy.

They say gambling is scarier than drugs. It’s a black hole that once you get into it, it’s hard to get out of it, and if you luckily win it a few times and then lose it again, you’ll feel like you’ve got your money’s worth and fall into a deeper hole. In the case of celebrities, it doesn’t end with just themselves, but often causes even greater damage to those around them. Therefore, it is criticized as much as drugs or drunk driving. The controversy over illegal gambling in the entertainment industry must end now.

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