Comedian Lee Jin-ho [Newsis]
Comedian Lee Jin-ho [Newsis]

Comedian Lee Jin-ho, who was hospitalized after suffering an acute cerebral hemorrhage, has been discharged, it has emerged, as he prepares for his first court hearing on illegal gambling and drunk driving charges on Friday.

Lee left a university hospital in Seoul in late May and is currently receiving outpatient treatment at home, according to Star News on Sunday. His discharge came roughly two months after he collapsed at home in April and was rushed to the hospital.

Lee still has some residual paralysis and faces mild difficulties with communication and movement, sources said. However, he has recovered to the point where he can hold everyday conversations and move around with relative ease.

Despite not having made a full recovery, Lee is expected to appear at his scheduled trial.

The first criminal hearing on charges of habitual gambling and violation of the Road Traffic Act — specifically drunk driving — is set for Friday at the Yeoju Branch of Suwon District Court.

The Yeoju Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office indicted Lee without detention on May 29.

Lee admitted in 2024 to gambling multiple times through illegal online gambling sites and suspended his broadcasting activities.

He also faces charges of driving approximately 100 kilometers from Incheon to Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi Province while intoxicated in the early hours of Sept. 24, 2025. Police measured his blood alcohol concentration at 0.11 percent — above the threshold for license revocation — and a blood test conducted at Lee's request returned a reading of 0.12 percent.

Lee made his debut in 2005 as a comedian recruited through a special selection process at SBS and built his profile through programs including "Utchaja" and "Comedy Big League."


choigo@heraldcorp.com