Han So Hee’s mother receives suspended sentence again for operating multiple illegal gambling dens

The mother of actress Han So Hee has once again received a suspended prison sentence in her appeal trial for operating multiple illegal gambling facilities.

On May 16, the Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon District Court, presided over by Judge Shim Hyun Geun, sentenced the 55-year-old defendant, identified as Ms. Shin, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. The court also ordered her to complete 120 hours of community service.

According to the prosecution, Ms. Shin established seven illegal gambling dens after receiving access codes and management credentials from a member of an illegal gambling ring she had met through the messaging app Telegram. These establishments provided access to online gambling games.

Authorities revealed that Shin set up adult PC rooms in Wonju, either under borrowed names or in cooperation with existing operators, under revenue-sharing agreements. These venues were used to facilitate online gambling, including games such as baccarat, for visiting customers.

In response to the controversy, Han So Hee’s agency issued a statement clarifying that the actress was not involved in the matter. “This is a deeply personal issue caused by Han So Hee’s mother. Han So Hee herself only learned about it through news reports. We apologize for the discomfort caused by this personal incident unrelated to her work,” the statement read.