MBC Investigation Into ‘Lee Seung-gi’s Father-in-law’ Lim Young-kyu Extorting 200 Million Won To Spend On Casino
Lim Young-kyu is suspected of being involved in gambling and intentionally registering marriage to extort a large sum of money
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
MBC’s “True Story of Exploration” broadcast on May 23rd revealed an episode titled “I want to file a complaint against my father Lim Young-kyu”.
Lim Young-kyu, a famous actor in the 1980s, divorced Kyeon Mi-ri after six years of marriage and was embroiled in controversies over assaults and fraud. Despite proving that he had reflected on his faults on various broadcasts, Lim Young-kyu was accused of extorting 200 million won from A, who had been raising three children alone for 25 years, for a year by A’s son.
A explained that Lim Young-kyu was a customer at the bar she operated and he approached her kindly so they quickly became close to each other. A said, “Lim Young-kyu said he had a debt of 200 million won due to Covid-19, adding ‘Don’t worry. I’ll solve it quickly within a month or two. I’ve started filming in Gangwon-do and when it’s done, I’ll get paid 150 million won’”. Convinced by Lim Young-kyu’s promise to pay her back once he got his appearance fees, A began lending him money.
Lim Young-kyu kept asking for money from A citing various reasons such as monthly rent, fines, and hospital expenses. In an audio recording revealed on the broadcast, Lim Young-kyu angrily shouted at A when she said she had no money, “You already gave me millions of won but now you’re trying not to help me with travel expenses?”.
One day, Lim Young-kyu presented A with a marriage registration, claiming that he found a way to get money. A said, “When I refused to register the marriage, he told me that the bank banned him due to his credit so money couldn’t be deposited into his account. He insisted on registering the marriage, claiming that filming fees would go into his account the next day. I was so desperate after lending him 100 million won, so I ended up registering the marriage”.
After they registered the marriage, Lim Young-kyu left for Gangwon-do, claiming that he had a shoot there, but did not send A the money on the promised day. A, who had even taken out loans to lend to Lim Young-kyu, felt so guilty that she ran away from home after knowing her son’s house was also taken and ended up being hospitalized for a month due to acute pyelonephritis.
On the other hand, the production team met with Lim Young-kyu and he said, “I invested in cryptocurrency but suffered big losses, but that money belonged to my wife. My wife gave me the money as business funds, then what’s wrong with that? Whether I pay it back or not, we’re already married”.
Upon examining Lim Young-gyu’s withdrawal history using A’s card due to his credit issues, the production crew noticed frequent withdrawals near the entrance to a casino and in a village adjacent to the casino in Gangwon-do. The total amount withdrawn in this area over six months exceeded 80 million won. Restaurant owners near the casino said, “Everyone in this area knows that Lim Young-gyu has something to do with the casino.” One restaurant owner mentioned Kim Young-kyu’s recent visit to the casino, saying “He’s accompanied by a different woman each time. Also, he often boasts about his son-in-law. He said things like Lee Seung-gi doesn’t even buy him a car.”
The program released a recorded voice message of Lim Young-kyu saying, “My fellow celebrity already told Lee Seung-gi, ‘How can you never care for your father-in-law when he’s having such a hard time?’. And Lee Seung-gi replied, ‘I’m sorry, I’ll visit you soon’. Therefore, go get the money from that XX”.
Acquaintances who have known Lim Young-kyu for a long time also confirmed that Lim Young-kyu often spends time and money at the casino and his relationships with women are complicated.
In fact, Lim Young-kyu deceived A by saying he had been cast in a movie and the amount of money she lent him was the required payment to confirm his role. Although A already filed a complaint against Lim Young-kyu with the police, the case is difficult as the law exempts family members from punishment for property crimes committed within the family. When A suggested divorce, Lim Young-kyu disagreed, saying “You want to divorce to sue me? I’ll never do it”.
Lim Young-kyu also lied to the production team, saying he had never been to the casino. When asked about the withdrawals from the casino’s ATM, Lim Young-kyu refused to answer and stated, “I’ll report this if you spread groundless rumors and damage my reputation”, before leaving.
