Chronology of Lee Jin Ho's Case: Illegal Gambling, Debt to Jimin BTS, and Girlfriend's Death

Kapanlagi.com - South Korean comedian Lee Jin Ho has recently come under the spotlight due to a series of legal cases involving him. Starting from an illegal gambling scandal that was revealed last year, debts to several celebrity colleagues including Jimin BTS, a driving under the influence (DUI) case this year, to the tragic news of his girlfriend's passing.

Here is the complete chronology of Lee Jin Ho's cases in a light infotainment style, yet still factual and chronological. Don't forget to also read other news about Lee Jin Ho on Liputan6.com, if not now, when else?

1. Online Gambling

In October 2024, Lee Jin Ho shocked the public by admitting to being involved in illegal online gambling since 2020. In a statement on his Instagram account, the comedian who debuted in 2005 confessed to an addiction to online gambling that led him to accumulate uncontrollable debts.

He regrets his actions and promises to pay off all his debts, even writing that he will continue to pay 'every month until the day I die' to atone for the guilt of disappointing friends who lent him money. Lee Jin Ho's confession was soon followed by a police investigation. Shocking facts emerged: Lee Jin Ho's total gambling debt is estimated to reach 2.3 billion won (around Rp24 billion) borrowed from fellow celebrities and also loan sharks.

2. Debt to a Celebrity Friend

(credit: Yonhap News)

Jimin BTS is reported to be one of the victims of Lee Jin Ho's fraud. Yonhap News and Ten Asia reported that Jimin once lent 100 million won (approximately Rp1.1 billion) to Lee Jin Ho in 2022, with a promise of repayment over a 10-year term.

The money from Jimin was reportedly used by Lee Jin Ho for gambling and, until his confession was revealed, not a single penny had been returned. Besides Jimin, several other celebrities such as comedian Lee Soo Geun and singer Ha Sungwoon were also reported to have lent hundreds of millions of won to Lee Jin Ho to help him out of debt, but ended up becoming victims of his fraud as well.

3. Stepping Away from Events

(credit: Yonhap News)

After this illegal gambling scandal broke, Lee Jin Ho immediately withdrew from the entertainment industry. His appearances on various TV shows like Knowing Bros were halted, and he canceled his attendance at the press conference for his latest project. The police also took action, and Lee Jin Ho was summoned for interrogation over allegations of gambling and fraud. His case was eventually officially referred to the prosecutor's office in April 2025 on charges of habitual illegal gambling.

However, the victims, including Jimin, reportedly did not file separate fraud charges, so the prosecution mainly focuses on illegal gambling violations. Lee Jin Ho stated he is ready to cooperate in the legal process and is determined to rectify his mistakes by fully repaying his debts.

4. DUI Case

(credit: Yonhap News)

Lee Jin Ho's problems did not stop there. After several months of relatively staying out of the spotlight, on September 24, 2025, he made headlines again by being caught driving under the influence. That early morning, Lee Jin Ho was driving from Incheon to Yangpyeong (about 100 km away) while under the influence of alcohol.

The police received reports of a suspected drunk driver in Incheon, which was later identified as Lee Jin Ho, and coordinated to pursue him across regions. Around 3 AM KST, officers managed to stop and arrest Lee Jin Ho in the Yangpyeong area. Test results showed his blood alcohol content was 0.11%, above the threshold that triggers the revocation of a driver's license in South Korea.

5. Lee Jin Ho and Agency's Statement

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The news of the arrest was quickly confirmed by Lee Jin Ho's agency, SM C&C, which issued an official apology statement. The agency acknowledged that it was true Lee Jin Ho was driving under the influence that morning and had been examined by the police.

Lee Jin Ho himself, through the agency, stated that he fully accepts responsibility for his actions without making excuses, and expressed deep regret for disappointing the public once again. He is prepared to face the legal consequences of this DUI case as appropriate, while the agency promised to guide its artist in complying with all procedures and sanctions imposed.

As a result of this incident, Lee Jin Ho's hopes for a comeback in the entertainment world are becoming slimmer, considering his previous gambling scandal along with the subsequent DUI case.

6. Girlfriend Reported Lee Jin Ho's DUI Case

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Interestingly, according to local media Dispatch, the person who reported Lee Jin Ho to the police in the DUI incident was his own girlfriend. Korean entertainment media reported that Lee Jin Ho's girlfriend felt worried and emotional seeing Lee's reckless behavior of driving under the influence, prompting her to contact the authorities.

However, the police were reluctant to disclose the identity of the reporter due to privacy reasons, although they did not directly deny the media speculation. The girlfriend's courage to report Lee Jin Ho's actions garnered public attention, as it was seen as an effort to prevent worse incidents from happening on the road.

7. Girlfriend Passes Away

(credit: Yonhap News)

Not long after the DUI case, tragic news followed. In early October 2025, Lee Jin Ho's girlfriend, who was mentioned as the reporter, was found dead at her residence. According to Incheon police, the woman's body was discovered in her apartment in the Bupyeong district of Incheon on Sunday morning around 8:30 by an acquaintance who happened to visit and subsequently contacted the police.

This incident shocked many and raised questions: was the girlfriend's death related to Lee Jin Ho's case?

8. Girlfriend's Death Still Under Investigation

(credit: THE FACT)

As of this news report, the exact cause of Lee Jin Ho's girlfriend's death has not been published. Authorities have stated that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death as well as 'the possible connection to Lee Jin Ho's DUI case'.

Several media reports mention that the girlfriend had experienced severe emotional distress following the DUI incident, but there has been no official confirmation regarding this matter. The police also emphasized that no signs of criminal suspicion have been found in the woman's death at this early stage of the investigation. This means that Lee Jin Ho has not been designated as a suspect or a person of interest in the case of his girlfriend's death.

(kpl/pit)