Han So Hee’s Mother Sentenced To Prison For Operating Multiple Gambling Dens

A South Korean court has sentenced actress Han So Hee’s mother for operating illegal gambling establishments.

On December 25, judge Kim Do Hyeong of the Chuncheon District Court’s Wonju branch sentenced Han’s mother, Ms. Shin (55), to one year in prison, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.

Shin stands accused of operating seven illegal gambling establishments from January 2022 to August 2024 across five locations in Wonju, Gangwon, Ulsan, and Gyeongju. According to the investigation, Shin set up adult PC game rooms and often collaborated with gaming room operators to allow customers to participate in illegal online gambling games like baccarat.

Judge Kim’s ruling underlined the significant financial gains made by Shin from these illegal operations but also took her lack of similar past convictions into account while issuing the sentence. Prosecutors have appealed the sentence, calling it too lenient.

Shin has been in the news multiple times in the past for similar controversies. In 2020, she was accused of embezzling private savings group funds, leading to Han So Hee getting dragged into the controversy. This year, in September, when Shin was arrested on the charges of running the gambling dens, Han’s agency put out a statement emphasizing that the actress had nothing to do with her estranged mother’s alleged crimes.