The girlfriend of comedian Lee Jin-ho (39), who caused controversy by driving under the influence, was found dead at her home, shocking the public.
According to police on the 10th, a person surnamed A was found dead at an APT. in Bupyeong District, Incheon, at around 8:30 a.m. on the 5th. The caller was an acquaintance of the person surnamed A and is reported to have immediately called 112.
The person surnamed A was confirmed to be the girlfriend of comedian Lee Jin-ho, who was recently detained on charges of drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act. Lee Jin-ho is accused of driving from Incheon to Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, in the early morning of the 24th of last month while intoxicated, and his blood alcohol concentration at the time was measured at 0.11%, a level that results in license cancellation.
Earlier, a media outlet reported that the reporter of Lee Jin-ho's drunk driving incident was his girlfriend, a person surnamed A. It was later reported that the person surnamed A expressed extreme psychological distress, adding to the sorrow. However, the police avoided specific comments, saying they could not confirm the identity of the reporter.
The police are currently investigating the circumstances of the person surnamed A's death and are also looking into whether there is a direct connection with Lee Jin-ho's drunk driving case. According to Yonhap News Agency, a police official said, "So far, no criminal charges have been identified," and added, "Considering the wishes of the bereaved family, it is difficult to disclose detailed information."
The death of the person surnamed A was reported about 10 days after she had reported Lee Jin-ho for drunk driving.
Lee Jin-ho was caught in the early morning of Sept. 24 after drinking in Incheon and driving about 100 km, being stopped near his home in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi.
At the time, his agency said, "After confirming with Lee Jin-ho himself, it is true that he drove under the influence during the early morning hours. He is awaiting disposition after the investigation," and apologized, saying, "Lee Jin-ho deeply regrets this matter and will faithfully carry out any legal penalties."
Lee Jin-ho has previously faced public criticism over illegal gambling controversies. When reports surfaced of gambling debts in the hundreds of millions of won and rumors of debts in the 2 billion won range, he left all broadcasts and wrote on social media, "I will repay my debts until I die."
Meanwhile, after news of the person surnamed A's death spread, online reactions continued, saying, "It's so tragic," "I hope the truth is properly revealed," and "I hope the deceased rests in peace."
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[Photo] SM C&C
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