Date: December 26, 2024, 04:28h.

Last updated on: December 26, 2024, 04:28h.

The mother of popular South Korean TV personality and model Han So-hee received a suspended sentence after being accused of engaging in illegal gambling activities in Korea.

The 55-year-old defendant was allegedly involved in operating seven illegal gambling websites, with five in Wonju, one in Ulsan, and one in Gyeongju, South Gyeongsang province. These sites offered games such as baccarat.

Following a recent ruling by a Chuncheon District Court judge, the woman was sentenced to one year in prison but with a two-year suspension, and she is required to perform 120 hours of community service as part of the sentence.

Prosecutors Dispute Lenient Penalty

Prosecutors, who called for harsher penalties, have filed an appeal against Judge Kim Do-hyung’s decision, as reported by the Korea Times.

Initially, the prosecution sought an 18-month prison sentence for the woman. The suspended sentence was criticized by prosecutors as being “unduly lenient,” according to the Korea Times.

The illegal gambling operations took place between January 2022 and August 2023.

Although the exact profits earned were not specified in the records, the judge reportedly mentioned that the structure of the operations and profit-sharing schemes indicated a substantial amount,” the judge reportedly stated.

The defendant was released after the judge’s ruling. She was initially arrested in September.

In 2023, she was fined 5 million won (US$3,800) for similar offenses but continued running the gambling sites, as per the Korea Times.

The woman’s identity was not disclosed in local media, with the Korea Times referring to her only as “A.”

Daughter Not Involved

Han So-hee, the defendant’s famous daughter, had no part in the illegal activities and was never charged.

Earlier, a representative for Han So-hee released a statement clarifying, “This case has no connection to the actress and is solely related to her mother’s actions.”

The incident was characterized by the actress’s spokesperson as a “private matter.”

At 31, Han So-hee has starred in several popular Korean TV shows and won accolades for her acting and modeling work.

As a teenager, she moved in with her grandmother in Seoul and began working part-time jobs that eventually led to her modeling career. She couldn’t afford to attend college at the time.