K comedian conned BTS Jimin out of KRW 100 million, BigHit Music confirms scam

Korean media revealed earlier this week that BTS member Jimin gave Lee Jin Ho approximately KRW 100 million in 2022 and the debt was never repaid. The Knowing Bros comedian has reportedly admitted his gambling addiction and confessed to the debt. Bighit Music confirmed the same in a statement and claimed that the BTS singer was indeed defrauded by the artist.

the k-comedian who tricked Jimin into lending him 100 million for his illegal gambling was Lee Jin-ho, who is part of Knowing Brothers.

YOU BETTER PAY JIMIN HIS MONEY THIS IS DISGUSTING AND DISGUSTING pic.twitter.com/2Hd8XfTMP1
— 🌸 (@seokjinbit) October 14, 2024

Bighit Music’s statement said, “Jimin suffered a financial loss. He trusted Lee Jin Ho and loaned him the money only with a promissory note.” The comedian has reportedly been involved in scamming several celebrities, but no other names have been released. The news report sparked a huge backlash from the military, with one X user saying, “Scammers don’t spare even celebrities… Jimin was scammed. He didn’t pay despite the written agreement. This is unacceptable.”

Lee Jin Ho’s statement also came through a social media post, in which he confessed to being under police investigation for illegal online gambling. He confessed that his addiction began in 2020 after stumbling into illegal betting sites and soon led to debt far beyond his ability to pay. Speaking about the debts owed by his friends and supporters, he added: “I will pay it all on my own, even if it takes me the rest of my life.”

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So he intentionally approaches Jimin to scam him out of money😭💔 https://t.co/YYhrY6orGU — 🌙 (@poeminmotion13) October 14, 2024

A K-comedian was exposed for illegal gambling and borrowing money from famous friends… looks like Jimin is one of the victims. He asked Jimin for 100 million won in 2022 saying that he needs it urgently and will pay him back in a week, but he never did. Jm was generous and said he was only paying in 10 years pic.twitter.com/eU7Sa3H1dY
— 드닝 (@gol3naotc) October 14, 2024

Lee Jin Ho also apologized to everyone he hadn’t paid and thanked the people who always gave him the right advice and helped him accept his addiction. On the other hand, his agency SM C&C has yet to make an official statement. It is unclear if she will return to Knowing Bros as the matter is being investigated to determine her future on the show.