South Korean Singer Kim Jang-hoon Says He’s ‘Completely Conquered’ His Gambling Habit

The South Korean singer Kim Jang-hoon says that he has “completely conquered” his gambling addiction and no longer even places “just for fun” bets.

Newsen reported that Kim says he has “completely” quit the habit, years after revealing he was expelled from high school for gambling.

Kim Jang-hoon: ‘I Won’t Even Gamble for Fun Now’

In 2012, Kim shocked fans when he explained how he became addicted to gambling during his high school days.

Kim told a talk show host that he mainly gambled at Chinese restaurants. 

He would convince the owners of these restaurants to look the other way by ordering expensive dishes. “The owner pretended not to notice,” he explained.

The singer later explained that he would typically bet several million won on card games.

His habit eventually took a heavy toll when, during a gambling session, he got into a fight with students from another school.

When his school discovered what had happened, it decided to expel him. He then hit a low in his twenties, experiencing homelessness and unemployment before making an unexpected musical debut in 1991.

Since these dark days, he told MBC Radio earlier this month, he has successfully put his gambling habit behind him. 

He explained: “I have never even played a slot machine for fun when I was in Las Vegas since then. If I make a promise, I always stick to it.”

Kim grew up in a single-parent family and experienced a range of childhood illnesses, such as pernicious anemia and bronchitis.

Some of his illnesses reportedly brought him close to death. However, his star began to rise soon after his debut, shooting to popularity in the mid-1990s.

Kim’s Significant Charitable Contribution

Kim also gained repute for his charity activities, donating a significant portion of his wealth to causes both at home and abroad.

The singer explained: “I started donating money in 1998. My mother was a missionary, and she suggested that we go to a children’s facility. When I went there, I was moved by the sight of the kids there. That’s when it all started.”

Earlier this month, a female influencer posted a recent photo of the disgraced K-pop star Seungri, formerly of BIGBANG, on her social media page.

The influencer tagged the photo’s location as Seoul, suggesting Seungri may be living in the South Korean capital.

The singer was jailed in 2021 for mediating prostitution, embezzlement, and gambling as part of the Burning Sun scandal.

The scandal also saw several other individuals in the South Korean entertainment industry charged with habitual gambling overseas.

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