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방송인 이수근,탁재훈,토니안이 불법도박혐의로 검찰 조사를 받은 가운데 불법도박 연예인 명단 추가적으로 있는 것으로 알려졌다
10일 서울중앙지검 강력부는 불법도박을 한 혐의로 이수근을 불러 조사했고, 이미 탁재훈에 대한 조사도 마쳤으며 이를 SBS가 보도하며 파문이 커졌다. 이수근, 탁재훈,토니안 외에도 불법도박 연예인이 다수 있을 것으로 보고 수사 중이며, 이미 몇몇 불법도박 혐의 연예인들이 수사선상에 올라있다.
이수근은 사설 도박 사이트와 휴대전화 도박을 통해 해외 스포츠 경기의 승패를 맞추는 도박에 수십만원에서 수백만원씩 베팅을 한 혐의를 받고 있다. 특히 지난 3월 방송인 김용만이 이와 유사한 사이트를 통해 10억원대의 불법 도박을 한 혐의가 적발돼 재판에 회부된 바 있다. 검찰은 김용만이 도박을 했던 사이트를 조사하던 과정에서 이수근의 혐의를 포착한 것으로 알려졌다.
이에 불법 도박 혐의를 받는 연예인이 더 있을 것으로 알려져 연예계에도 ‘도박 공포증’이 확산되고 있다. 지상파와 케이블TV, 종합편성채널 등 다양한 매체에서 굵직굵직한 자리를 지켜오던 인기 연예인들이 도박 혐의에 프로그램을 하차하거나 연예인 인생에 큰 타격을 받게 되는 일이 잦아지면서 각 매니지먼트사들도 긴장된 모습을 보이고 있다.
더불어 방송국 등 프로그램 관계자들도 갑작스러운 출연진 하차 등의 사태가 벌어질까 우려하고 있다. 이와 함께 실체는 없지만 구체적인 명단이 떠도는 등 무고한 피해자가 발생할 염려도 크다.
한편 이수근 측은 “이수근이 불미스러운 일에 휘말려 깊이 반성하고 있다. 많이 후회하고 있고 자숙의 시간을 가지려고 한다”고 공식입장을 전했으며, 탁재훈 측은 아직까지 입장을 발표하지 않았다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Celebrities embroiled in illegal gambling allegations
By Chun Sung-woo
Two A-list hosts of variety shows and a former K-pop singer are now under investigation for illegal sports gambling, proving to be the latest in a long line of celebrities caught up in the illegal sport.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said it summoned comedian Lee Soo-geun, 38, on Sunday for questioning on suspicions he wagered hundreds of millions of won on football teams in the English Premier League through a private gambling site.
Under a related law, “Sportstoto” (www.sportstoto.co.kr), operated by a licensed brokerage for the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, is the only authorized sports gambling venue in Korea. All the other sports gambling channels are illegal.
The prosecution is said to have also recently called in TV entertainer and show host Tak Jae-hoon, 45, for inquiry on the same suspicion. Tak shot to stardom as a member of two-man band “Country Kko Kko” with Shin Jung-hwan, who has also faced his own gambling scandal.
On Monday, it was disclosed that prosecutors summoned singer Tony An last month on the same suspicion of illegal sports betting. An debuted as a member of the now defunct boy band, H.O.T., in 1996.
The prosecution is reportedly investigating six to eight TV celebrities in connection with illegal sports betting.
After the news broke out, Lee expressed his intention to leave all current programs “for some time” to reflect on hisconduct. He could potentially make a comeback after the scandal as in case of show host Kim Yong-man.
In April, Kim gained notoriety after he was indicted for habitual illegal sports betting. The 45-year-old emcee said at that time that he would have some time of self-restraint and quit all his programs, though he has recently began making TV appearances.
Shin Jung-hwan’s case, however, has shown the fall of a TV celeb due to gambling. He was caught gambling in 2005, resigned from all his shows, and then re-emerged and regained his popularity. But in 2010, he was dropped from all TV programs after being caught in lies over gambling in the Philippines followed by his indictment here in Korea.
