Comedian Lee Jin Ho has reportedly been indicted without detention on charges of habitual illegal gambling and drunk driving, with the news emerging weeks after reports that he had been hospitalized following a brain hemorrhage.
According to the legal community, on June 26, the Yeoju Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office indicted Lee on May 29 on charges including habitual gambling and violating South Korea's Road Traffic Act.
Lee Jin Ho is accused of driving approximately 100 kgs from Incheon to his home in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, while under the influence of alcohol in the early hours of September 24, 2025.
Police who responded to the scene initially measured his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at 0.11%, exceeding the legal threshold for license revocation. After Lee Jin Ho requested a blood test, the National Forensic Service later confirmed his BAC at 0.12%.
Separate from the DUI charge, prosecutors also allege that Lee repeatedly participated in illegal online gambling through unauthorized gambling websites.
The investigation began after authorities received a complaint through South Korea's National Petition System, requesting an investigation into Lee Jin Ho over allegations of gambling and fraud. Police later referred the case to prosecutors, who ultimately indicted him on habitual gambling charges.
In October 2024, Lee Jin Ho publicly admitted to his gambling addiction in an Instagram post.
"In 2020, I happened to start playing games on an illegal online gambling site, and I ended up burdened with debts I could no longer handle," he wrote.
Authorities believe Lee Jin Ho accumulated gambling debts totaling tens of billions of KRW. To finance his gambling and repay existing debts, he allegedly borrowed money from fellow entertainers and broadcasting industry figures, falsely claiming he needed funds for his parents' medical expenses, tax payments, and other personal emergencies.
Among those reportedly affected was BTS member Jimin, who allegedly lent Lee Jin Ho 100 million KRW (approximately 65,100). Comedian Lee Soo Geun, singer Young Tak, and singer Ha Sung Woon were also reportedly among the celebrities who suffered financial losses.
Several entertainers allegedly never recovered the money they lent Lee Jin Ho, resulting in significant financial damage and emotional distress after discovering they had been deceived.
As the controversy spread throughout the entertainment industry, broadcasters quickly distanced themselves from the comedian.
The production team of the variety show 'Knowing Bros,' where Lee Jin Ho had been a regular cast member, announced his departure and edited out as much of his previously recorded footage as possible.
Netflix's comedy variety series 'Comedy Revenge' also expressed regret over the controversy and said it would seek ways to minimize the impact on the show's original intent.
On the morning of the program's production presentation, Lee Jin Ho released a public apology on social media and skipped the event, reportedly causing considerable disruption for organizers.
The fraud complaint filed through the National Petition System focuses on whether Lee intentionally deceived acquaintances while borrowing money. Under South Korean law, fraud charges require proof that a person borrowed money without the intention or ability to repay it while concealing that fact.
If prosecutors determine that Lee Jin Ho falsely claimed he needed the money for personal expenses when his actual purpose was to fund gambling, he could face additional legal consequences.
The case sparked widespread public criticism, with many expressing disappointment that a public figure allegedly engaged in illegal gambling while deceiving colleagues into lending him large sums of money.
Separate from the ongoing legal proceedings, Lee Jin Ho was recently reported to have suffered a brain hemorrhage and received treatment in an intensive care unit.
Legal experts believe that, given both the habitual gambling allegations and the accusation that he drove approximately 100 kilometers while allegedly intoxicated at a BAC level well above the license revocation threshold, Lee could face significant penalties if convicted.
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