Police Accuse Popular Korean Celebrity Of Illegal Gambling

According to a recent TV report by TV Chosun, allegations have surfaced that a well-known celebrity engaged in overseas gambling in Las Vegas, United States, over several years. Police have reportedly secured related statements.

In June of last year, a person identified as Cha, who serves as the chairman of an entertainment agency located in Gangnam, Seoul, exchanged the following KakaoTalk messages with a person classified as a special related party of the company.

In the chats were a photographed excel file with the name “Shin.” Shin is the last name of a celebrity and former singer-turned-producer under the agency. For all South Korean citizens, gambling is illegal both domestically and overseas. The excel file showed various U.S. dollar amounts with Cha mentioning that they had “paid it back on his behalf.”

I’ve paid all of that as well as his debts previously. I found out about them as a notice was sent to the company. I paid those too.

Cha

The file contains records totaling USD 3.82 million, dated between August 2023 and January 2025. The document lists the names of two hotel casinos in Las Vegas, along with ML numbers, short for “Marker Loans,” which refer to short-term credit extended by casinos to VIP customers.

Cha claimed that “that Excel file was just something I roughly wrote based on how much I felt he might have spent, just to give a general sense.”

Electronic airline tickets obtained by reporters from company officials show that around the time the casino credit loans were issued, both Shin and Chairman Cha traveled to Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the United States.

“Among the group that went together, there were comments like, ‘Shin is playing games right now’ or ‘he’ll probably come down later.’”

Police, who obtained intelligence related to Shin’s alleged overseas gambling, are reportedly reviewing fact-checking procedures in accordance with standard protocol.

Shin refuted the allegations.

“I have visited Las Vegas in the U.S. for work purposes, but I have never gambled. All of the casino loan records presented as evidence are completely false.”

Netizens on theqoo have named them as Cha Ga Won and MC Mong (real name Shin Dong Hyun). The two have previously been embroiled in debt issues and more. You can read more about it below.

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