Police Launch Preliminary Investigation into Gambling Site Accessed by Comedian Lee Jin-ho

Pharmaceutical Company Rebate Officials Booked and Transferred
Investigation of Victims in 'Songpa-gu Safe Theft Incident'

The police have initiated a pre-investigation (internal inquiry) into a gambling site presumed to have been used by comedian Lee Jin-ho (38).

Comedian Lee Jin-ho, who confessed to illegal internet gambling, appeared at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 22nd of last month to undergo related investigations. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Bong-sik, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated at a regular briefing held on the morning of the 4th, "We have transferred the case related to the gambling site used by Lee to the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Seoul Police Agency and started an internal inquiry." Lee appeared at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the 22nd of last month as a suspect and was investigated on charges including habitual gambling and fraud.

Subsequently, the police revealed that additional allegations of loan fraud involving acquaintances were received through a petition, beyond the existing charges against Lee. Currently, the investigation into Lee is being conducted by the Investigation Division 2 of the Gangnam Police Station.

Meanwhile, the police are continuing their investigation into the pharmaceutical rebate case involving companies such as Goryeo Pharmaceutical. So far, 346 related individuals have been booked, and 284 of them have been sent to the prosecution. According to the police, 269 of those sent to prosecution are doctors. The police plan to notify the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the names of these doctors for administrative action and continue investigations into Goryeo Pharmaceutical officials, doctors, and the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO).

Additionally, the police stated that they are investigating the 'Safe Theft Incident in Songpa-gu' with a focus on whether there is any criminal connection. In September, a man in his 40s, identified as Mr. A, was caught on charges of stealing tens of billions of won in cash from an unmanned warehouse near Jamsil Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The Songpa Police Station in Seoul arrested and sent Mr. A to prosecution on the 11th of last month, and the prosecution also indicted him on charges including nighttime intrusion and theft on the 29th of the same month.

Mr. A stole the cash, which was stored divided into six travel suitcases (carriers), and left a note inside one of the bags that read, "Even if you know who I am, pretend you don't. Then I won't say anything either." The stolen cash was initially stored in a warehouse under his wife's name and was hidden in a building in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, around September 15, two days after the crime.

The victim, known to reside overseas, reported to the police that 6.8 billion won was stolen, but Mr. A reportedly stated that he stole 4 billion won and fled. The victim introduced himself as a self-employed person but has remained silent about the specific source of the cash. The police are investigating the possibility of involvement in crimes such as voice phishing and gambling.

The police explained, "The exact amount of damage is estimated to be 6.7 billion won. Currently, 4.099 billion won of the cash stolen by Mr. A has been seized," adding, "The victim is currently overseas, and necessary information is being confirmed through the person concerned. Since there is a possibility that the victim is involved in a crime, we have started an internal inquiry." They further added, "It is presumed that the victim left the cash in the warehouse when going abroad."