Comedian Lee Jin-ho, 40, who was put on trial on charges of habitual illegal gambling and drunk driving, received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial. Lee gambled 664 times on an illegal gambling site and remitted about 870 million won.
On the 1st, Ahn Tae-yun, presiding judge of Criminal Division 1 at the Yeoju branch of the Suwon District Court, said "All charges are acknowledged," sentencing Lee Jin-ho to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, and ordering 120 hours of community service.
Lee Jin-ho was indicted on charges of habitual gambling after allegedly remitting about 870 million won to an illegal gambling site a total of 664 times between May 11, 2023, and Oct. 14, 2024, then converting it into cyber money.
A drunk driving charge was added. Lee Jin-ho is accused of driving about 70 kilometers on Sept. 24, 2025, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12%.
About five minutes before the start of the sentencing hearing that day, Lee Jin-ho appeared at the court on crutches wearing a white mask. He did not answer reporters' questions such as "Do you admit the charges?" and went into the courtroom.
Prosecutors sought a two-year prison term for Lee Jin-ho at the sentencing hearing held on the 14th of last month. At the time, Lee said, "I have lived each day in regret after doing wrong," and "I will never do wrong again."
Earlier, police received a civil complaint via the National Sinmungo asking for an investigation into Lee Jin-ho's gambling and fraud allegations, launched an investigation, and then sent the case to prosecutors.