[Diary Point = Reporter Park Bo-young] South Korean comedian Lee Kyung-sil revealed that she borrowed 100 million won ($70,000) from fellow comedian Kim Ji-sun during a crisis that nearly led to her apartment being sold at auction, and that she spent about a year paying back the loan in full. The story came to light in an episode featuring Lee Kyung-sil that aired on the YouTube channel 'Jisikin Inside' on October 31, with related reports following on November 1.
In the video, Lee Kyung-sil recalled that she needed more than 200 million won to resolve the apartment issue but was short by 100 million won. She said it was the first time she had ever asked a colleague for money, and she told Kim Ji-sun she would take whatever amount Kim could lend her.
According to Lee, Kim Ji-sun told her not to borrow from multiple sources and instead offered to send her the full 100 million won herself. Lee said she was moved to tears by Kim's generosity at the time. She had hoped to repay the loan in one lump sum, but that proved difficult, so she ended up paying it back gradually over about a year.
Lee Personally Confirmed the Resolution After Auction Reports
News of the auction first broke in May 2025, when reports said Lee Kyung-sil's apartment in Ichon-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, was set to go up for court auction due to debt issues. At the time, reports noted the apartment had an exclusive area of 293 square meters and detailed the auction proceedings tied to the debt.
Shortly after the reports surfaced, Lee Kyung-sil used her social media to announce that the matter had been resolved. She explained that the debt had been settled and the auction canceled, adding that even her family and close acquaintances had not known about the auction. The 100 million won from Kim Ji-sun revealed in the latest video was introduced as part of the funds she gathered to get through that crisis.
Why This Old Story Is Back in the Spotlight
What's new this time isn't the auction itself, but the specific detail of who helped cover the shortfall and how. For viewers who had only heard about the auction and its later cancellation, this added a behind-the-scenes story about a colleague's help during the debt resolution process.
As confirmed so far, the apartment auction has already been canceled, and the 100 million won loan from Kim Ji-sun has been fully repaid. Lee Kyung-sil said Kim remains the person she is most grateful to, expressing her heartfelt thanks.