Famous Actor's Mother Sentenced to Prison with Suspension for Operating 7 Illegal Gambling Sites

Appointing a Figurehead CEO Under Profit Sharing Conditions
Also Has a 5 Million Won Fine Record in 2023

The mother of actress Han So-hee was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation for opening multiple illegal gambling establishments.

Judge Kim Do-hyung, head of the Criminal Division 1 at the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch, sentenced Shin (55), who was indicted for opening gambling venues, and ordered 120 hours of community service.

Shin is accused of opening seven gambling venues for profit from January 2022 to August of this year. She operated a total of seven illegal gambling establishments: five in Wonju, Gangwon Province, and one each in Ulsan and Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Province. Under the condition of profit sharing, she put up so-called front managers to open adult PC game rooms or colluded with adult PC game room operators to allow customers to play online gambling games such as baccarat. She collected money by combining commissions deducted from a certain percentage of the total amount bet by gambling site users and commissions deducted from a certain percentage of the amount lost in bets.

Shin had a prior record in 2021 for violating the Game Industry Promotion Act and was fined 5 million won in 2023. The court pointed out, "Despite being fined 5 million won in 2023, she managed and operated gambling sites and conspired with multiple game room operators to open gambling venues. Although it is not clearly stated in the records, considering the business structure of the game rooms and the profit-sharing rate, it appears that the defendant also gained considerable benefits from this." However, taking into account that she had only one prior fine record and no other similar offenses, as well as the fact that she was detained for a certain period, the court sentenced her to a suspended prison term.

Four years ago, Han So-hee apologized due to her mother’s debt. At that time, Shin borrowed 40 million won from an acquaintance, Mr. A, with Han So-hee as a joint guarantor, but failed to repay the debt on time. Mr. A filed a civil lawsuit against Han So-hee, the joint guarantor, for the principal of 40 million won plus delayed damages.

Han So-hee issued a statement at the time, saying, "My parents divorced when I was about five years old, and I was raised by my grandmother," and "Even after transferring to Ulsan, where my mother lives, upon entering high school, I continued to live with my grandmother," distancing herself from her mother’s joint guarantee.

Regarding this case, the Ulsan District Court ruled in both the first and second trials that "this matter occurred independently of Han So-hee."