Lee Jinho to Appear in Court Despite Lingering Paralysis From April Brain Bleed

Korean comedian Lee Jinho has quietly left the hospital where he spent nearly two months recovering from an acute cerebral hemorrhage, with his first criminal trial now days away. SM C&C, the SM Entertainment subsidiary that manages him, confirmed the discharge and said he is resting at home.

Lee collapsed at his residence on April 1 and was rushed to a university hospital in Seoul, where he was initially treated in intensive care. The emergency call was made by singer Kang In, who happened to be on the phone with Lee when he fell. Lee regained consciousness and was eventually moved to a general ward for rehabilitation before being discharged quietly in late May.

The low-key exit was deliberate. According to people familiar with the situation, Lee and those around him were reluctant to publicize the discharge while his recovery was still ongoing, so he moved between the hospital and his home without announcement. He continues to receive outpatient treatment.

Some effects of the hemorrhage remain. Lee has partial paralysis that affects both movement and communication, though he has recovered enough to hold basic conversations and move around with limited difficulty.

That recovery, incomplete as it is, now runs directly into his legal calendar. On the 14th, the Yeoju Branch of Suwon District Court will hold the first hearing in Lee's case on charges of illegal gambling and violation of the Road Traffic Act through drunk driving. He is expected to attend.

The Yeoju branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office indicted Lee without detention on May 29. Prosecutors allege that in the early hours of September 24 last year, Lee drove approximately 100 kilometers from Incheon to Yangpyeong while intoxicated. A breathalyzer reading taken at the time put his blood alcohol concentration at 0.11%, a level that triggers automatic license revocation under Korean law. Lee subsequently requested a blood draw, and analysis by the National Forensic Service returned a concentration of 0.12%.

The gambling charge stems from Lee's alleged use of illegal online gambling sites on multiple occasions. The case originated with a citizen complaint filed through the government's public grievance portal, which prompted police to open an investigation before referring the matter to prosecutors.

The timing puts Lee in the unusual position of attending a criminal trial while still in active medical recovery, a detail his agency has not commented on beyond confirming his discharge and current condition.