The recent whereabouts of actor Lee Jong-soo, who is reported to have gone into hiding after being sued for fraud, have been revealed.

On the broadcast of tvN's 'Free Doctor' on the 28th, stories were shared on the theme of 'the shocking recent situations of stars who disappeared.'

That day, the broadcast attracted attention by sharing updates about actor Lee Jong-soo, who suddenly disappeared in 2018.

Previously, on March 24, 2018, Lee Jong-soo was to officiate at the wedding of a friend of the complainant, and he received 850,000 won in advance from person A. However, when person A was unable to reach Lee Jong-soo from the wedding day until the 28th of that month, they filed a complaint with the police.

Subsequently, there were reports of having seen Lee Jong-soo on a flight to the U.S. on the 28th, and soon after, testimonies surfaced that Lee borrowed tens of millions of won from acquaintances under the guise of business funds and has not repaid them, escalating the 'no-show' controversy. Additionally, allegations of casino table business, non-payment of employee wages, and rumors of a fraudulent marriage for obtaining U.S. permanent residency were also added.

As the controversy escalated, Lee Jong-soo sent an email to his agency while in Los Angeles and spoke out after eight days of silence. Lee claimed that he has never fallen behind on paying interest of 2.3% monthly to the person who lent him 30 million won and that he repaid the principal amount of 13 million won at that time. He also emphasized, "I am currently in the process of repaying and will earn money to repay the debt."

After that clarification, Lee Jong-soo had not shared any further updates. According to a report from last year, Lee is currently working as the manager of a Korean restaurant in the U.S. He has completely severed ties with the entertainment industry and is living a normal life as a non-celebrity.

Particularly regarding his long-term stay in the U.S., a reporter explained, "He currently holds a U.S. permanent residency and reportedly obtained it after marrying a U.S. citizen named Mr. Lee in 2012, with their divorce occurring after three years of marriage. It is known that he obtained the permanent residency during that time. He is currently raising a six-year-old daughter on his own."

However, the possibility of returning to the entertainment industry is said to be slim. Lee Jong-soo is currently in a situation where he feels burdened by the attention, reportedly expressing a desire to "live quietly for the rest of his life."

[Photo] Broadcast capture / OSEN DB

[OSEN]