Popular South Korean comedian Lee Jin Ho has made a confession about his involvement in illegal gambling and the resulting financial problems. On October 14, he shared a long message that read, “Hello, I'm Lee Jin Ho. I want to talk about a shameful chapter of my life that stems from my poor decisions. In 2020, I began engaging in illegal online gambling, which resulted in a huge debt. After receiving harsh advice from friends and realizing that my career was at risk, I finally understood the gravity of the situation and was able to stop gambling.”

However, Lee Jin Ho said that he had already borrowed money from many people at this time. “I am now repaying the debt every month and intend to pay it off in full. Although the financial loss is significant, my greatest regret is that I disappointed those who trusted me enough to lend me money. Every time an unknown number called, my heart raced with fear that it was about my debts. “It was extremely difficult to live with the constant fear of when this might become public,” he added.

The comedian also mentioned that he thought about confessing everything and facing the consequences to free himself from this burden. “But because I had to keep working to pay off my debts, I wondered if this thought was just my own selfishness stopping me from making a decision. I am deeply ashamed and sorry. I really regret that by making a bad decision I lost sight of my responsibilities as a public figure and damaged my image. Even if I can't be a role model, I will work hard not to be someone who is criticized,” said Lee Jin Ho.

He promised to repay the remaining debt. “I sincerely apologize to everyone I let down by causing this social controversy and trying to keep it secret. I will cooperate fully with the police investigation and accept the consequences of my actions. I’m really sorry,” the comedian concluded.

According to Koreaboo, the popular comedian has also cheated on some big celebrities, and BIGHIT MUSIC confirmed that BTS's Jimin was one of his victims.

After the confession, a source from JTBC commented on Lee Jin Ho's participation in Knowing Bros (Ask Us Anything). The production team is reviewing the situation and will release a more detailed statement about its involvement once everything is resolved, Soompi reports.

Lee Jin Ho was also scheduled to attend the press event for the upcoming Netflix variety show “Comedy Revenge,” but has reportedly since pulled out of the appearance.