On September 2, South Korean media outlet TV Chosun reported that actress Han So Hee’s mother, identified as Ms. Shin, was arrested for allegedly running 12 illegal gambling establishments across South Korea. This incident marks her second arrest, following previous criminal activities that have complicated her relationship with her daughter.
Ms. Shin, a 50-year-old woman, has reportedly been operating these gambling dens in various cities, including Ulsan and Wonju, since 2021. According to the reports, she used “proxy owners” to manage these illegal venues, which offered games like baccarat through an online gambling platform that she controlled.
The troubled relationship between Han So Hee and her mother has been a topic of public concern for some time. Ms. Shin’s involvement in fraudulent activities, including cases where she used her daughter’s name to borrow money, has negatively impacted Han So Hee’s reputation. In March 2022, Han So Hee’s agency, 9ato Entertainment, clarified that the actress had no responsibility for her mother’s financial misdeeds.
The agency revealed that Ms. Shin had opened a bank account under Han So Hee’s name without her consent when the actress was a minor. This account was then used to secure loans that Han So Hee was unaware of at the time. The agency emphasized that Han So Hee had no involvement in these fraudulent activities, and a civil trial had confirmed that there was no evidence linking her to the debts incurred.
The Ulsan District Court’s ruling on April 8, 2021, further supported this stance, stating that while money was borrowed using Han So Hee’s name, there was insufficient evidence to hold her jointly responsible for the debt. The agency also noted that Ms. Shin had leveraged her daughter’s celebrity status to borrow money, which added to the public’s negative perception of Han So Hee.
Despite their strained relationship, Han So Hee has expressed regret for the harm caused to those affected by her mother’s actions. The actress, who has been living with her grandmother since she was five and had limited contact with her mother, only became aware of her mother’s debts after turning 20. She had attempted to address the situation by working to pay off the debts before her acting career took off.
Han So Hee’s agency highlighted that, although the actress was not legally responsible for her mother’s actions, she felt a moral obligation to address the situation and hoped for understanding from the public.
In more positive news, Han So Hee is set to reprise her role alongside Park Seo Joon in the highly anticipated second season of Netflix’s hit Korean series, “Gyeongseong Creature,” which will premiere on September 27.