Police have launched an investigation into allegations that a famous singer and producer, a person surnamed Shin, engaged in overseas gambling worth several billions of won over several years in Las Vegas in the United States.
According to a TV CHOSUN report on the 30th, police recently secured some statements and materials related to Shin's overseas gambling in the United States. Claims have also been made that Shin incurred debt during the gambling and that the agency's president, a person surnamed Cha, repaid it on Shin's behalf.
According to the report, Cha is said to have shared a photo of an Excel file listing Shin's English name and dollar amounts during a conversation with a related party of the company in June last year, saying, "I repaid it instead."
The file reportedly listed a total of $3.82 million (about 5.4 billion won) from Aug. 2023 to January last year, and included the names of two hotel casinos in Las Vegas, as well as "ML" numbers, the abbreviation for Marker Loans, short-term lines of credit that casinos extend to VIP customers.
It is also reported that electronic airline ticket records included details showing Shin and Cha traveling between Los Angeles (LA) and Las Vegas around the time the casino credit was extended.
Police obtained intelligence related to Shin's overseas gambling and are currently reviewing whether to verify the facts. In response, Shin is said to have stated, "I have visited Las Vegas for business, but I did not gamble," adding, "All records of casino loans are false."
Cha's side said, "It is true that we repaid it on behalf of Shin, but we did not know it was gambling debt," adding, "Shin used 2 billion won in advance performance fees as gambling funds, leaving no choice but to make repayment instead."