On October 14, BIGHIT MUSIC released a statement addressing the financial losses suffered by BTS’s Jimin after lending money to comedian Lee Jin Ho. The controversy erupted when Lee Jin Ho admitted to accumulating significant debts due to illegal gambling and “seeking financial help from various people.”
According to reports by TenAsia, Lee Jin Ho’s debts amount to hundreds of millions of won, affecting several celebrities, including Jimin, Lee Soo Geun, Young Tak, and Ha Sung Woon, as well as multiple producers and entertainment industry executives. Some of the financial transactions between the celebrities and Lee Jin Ho were made without promissory notes, leading to tax issues, with authorities classifying these transactions as “gifts” rather than “loans.”
Specifically, TenAsia revealed that in 2022, Lee Jin Ho approached BTS’s Jimin, requesting a loan of 100 million won (approximately $73,600) for one week, with a signed promissory note. However, Lee Jin Ho failed to repay the amount as agreed, prompting Jimin to extend the repayment period to up to 10 years.
BIGHIT MUSIC confirmed the legitimacy of the situation and stated, “It is true that financial losses occurred [for Jimin]. The loan was made with a signed promissory note.”
Amid the growing controversy, Lee Jin Ho has been removed from the show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) and also skipped the press conference for his new Netflix show, “Comedy Revenge.”
What do you think about this situation? Should Jimin have been more assertive in handling this financial matter? Share your thoughts in the comments!
