Shin Hye-sung charged with gambling, issues apology

Boy band Shinhwa member Shin Hye-sung's agency issued an apology on Friday, asking fans to forgive the singer who has been indicted on charges of compulsive gambling.

A day earlier, Incheon District Court indicted without physical detention the 29-year-old singer for gambling with money worth over 120,000 dollars over five occasions in Macau between July 2007 and April 2008. He was also handed a fine of 8,500 dollars.

"We deeply apologize to those of you who would have been shocked and disappointed on what you heard in the news today," wrote Liveworks Company on the singer's official website.

"He has continuously been regretting and repenting on what happened for the past two years and promised that he will never again repeat such a foolish mistake," Liveworks explained, assuring that he has never broken the promise ever since.

The agency ended the statement asking fans for their continued support.

Shin, who debuted as the lead vocal of the six-member group in 1998, has also led on a solo singing career since 2005.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr