Han So-hee addresses mother's illegal gambling operations

Actor Han So-hee / Courtesy of JTBC

Actor Han So-hee's agency, 9ato Entertainment, issued an official statement, Tuesday, addressing concerns about her mother’s involvement in illegal gambling operations.

"The matter reported on Sept. 2 regarding actress Han So-hee's mother is entirely her mother's personal decisions," the agency said.

According to a TV Chosun report, prosecutors arrested Han's mother, who is in her 50s, on charges of operating 12 illegal gambling establishments nationwide since 2021.

In the statement, Han's agency said, "Han So-hee also learned about this incident through the news and is deeply distressed by the situation."

The agency said this situation is entirely the result of her mother’s independent actions and "has no connection to the actress."

Still, it added, "We also apologize for having to share uncomfortable news related to a personal matter rather than her work."

This is not the first time Han encountered controversies related to her mother's financial issues.

In 2020, Han disclosed on her blog that she learned of her estranged mother's debts only after turning 20 and had attempted to repay them out of a sense of filial duty. She also expressed regret, stating, "I feel nothing but remorse, as my mistaken belief that repaying the debts would solve everything only led to more victims."

In 2022, when another controversy involving her mother arose, 9ato Entertainment issued a statement saying, "Her mother used a bank account under Han's name to borrow money. The mother had opened the account without Han's knowledge when she was a minor and used it to borrow money secretly."

Han gained popularity through various dramas such as "The World of the Married," "Nevertheless," "My Name," and "Gyeongseong Creature."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.