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Read Full BioKim Yo Han, a South Korean broadcaster and former sports star, has been absolved of illegal gambling charges, with his would-be blackmailer jailed for a year.
The newspaper Hanguk Kyungjae reported that a man, named by Kim’s representatives as Hong (given name withheld for legal reasons), was sentenced by the Seoul Central District Court’s criminal division.
The charges against Kim date back to December 2022. The blackmailer posted a series of allegations about the ex-pro volleyball player on the public bulletin board of the hit entertainment program Let’s Eat Dinner Together.
Kim Yo Han: Cleared of All Charges
The blackmailer claimed that Kim had placed a series of illegal bets on sporting events. These bets, the poster claimed, included wagering on illegal toto books.
In South Korea, toto is a type of tote-style betting on professional matches, not unlike the British football pools.
The sole legal operator is Sports Toto. The operator allows citizens aged 20 and over to buy tickets worth a maximum of KRW 100,000 ($72) for several sports leagues, including the V-League (pro volleyball).
The ensuing controversy sparked a lengthy legal battle, forcing Kim to halt his entertainment-related activities temporarily.
The accuser was found guilty of blackmail, intimidation, and violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
The court judged that he had “raised groundless illegal gambling and private life charges” against Kim and distributed these in online spaces.
Prosecutors explained that the accused also made a series of “retaliatory threats” in June 2024 as the acrimonious dispute went on.
In a statement, Janggoon Entertainment, Kim’s talent agency, explained that Kim also won a separate civil lawsuit against his would-be blackmailer.
Agency: Truth Is Finally Out
Hong was found guilty of defamation by spreading false information. The agency said: “Kim Yo-han has been cleared of all charges. It took a long time for the truth to come out. But we thank those who have supported him. Mr. Kim has suffered extreme mental anguish as a result of this matter.”
Other media outlets claimed that the duo first met in the mid-2010s, when Kim was still playing professional volleyball. They alleged that they later had a dispute over financial issues.
Kim made his V-League debut in 2007. He was selected as the first overall pick in the draft by the LIG Greaters in the same year.
Kim during his pro volleyball playing days. (Image: KBS/Screenshot)
He transferred to Ansan OK Savings Bank in 2017 and retired from the sport two years later. He has since gone on to become a regular on variety TV shows. Examples include the long-running JTBC title Let’s Play Soccer.
Last month, the South Korean e-sports association petitioned the largest party in the National Assembly to consider a Toto proposal.
The association wants parliamentarians to let the public buy e-sports toto tickets. It claims this move would help teams boost their profitability.In Japan, meanwhile, police are cracking down on celebrities and sports stars suspected of gambling on illegal online casino sites.
