Hwaseong City Dismisses Lee Jin-ho, Hwaseong Native, as Ambassador for 'Illegal Gambling'

"I Will Cooperate Fully with the Police Investigation"

Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province has dismissed comedian Lee Jin-ho (38), who confessed to illegal online gambling, from his position as the city’s public ambassador.

On the 17th, Hwaseong City announced that this decision was made based on the 'Hwaseong City Public Ambassador Operation Ordinance.' According to the city, Article 4, Paragraph 1, Clause 3 of the ordinance states that an ambassador can be dismissed if deemed inappropriate to perform duties due to damage to dignity or other reasons.

Lee, a native of Jangan-myeon, Hwaseong City, was appointed as a public ambassador for a two-year term at the 23rd Hwaseong City Citizens’ Day ceremony last March. At that time, he said, "As someone from Hwaseong, I will do my best to promote Hwaseong’s proud history, culture, and tourism both domestically and internationally."

Comedian Lee Jin-ho. [Image source=SM C&C]

Earlier, on the 14th, Lee revealed his illegal online gambling activities through his Instagram. He stated, "In 2020, by chance, I started playing on an illegal online gambling site and ended up with overwhelming debt. Although I eventually regained my senses and stopped gambling, I had already received financial help from many people."

He continued, "I am repaying the money every month and intend to repay this debt with my own strength until I die," adding, "As a public figure appearing on broadcasts, I sincerely regret the past days ruined by a moment of poor judgment, forgetting my responsibilities." Lee also said, "I bow my head in apology to many who were disappointed by me causing social controversy and trying desperately to hide it," and "I will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation and pay the price for my mistakes."

Meanwhile, the police have begun a pre-indictment investigation into Lee’s illegal gambling charges. The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul stated that they are conducting a preliminary investigation after receiving a petition through the National Police Agency’s online complaint system regarding Lee’s gambling and fraud allegations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.