After seven years, entertainer Shin Jung-hwan has publicly addressed the controversial jokes made by Kim Hee-chul during Shin's 2018 appearance on the variety show "Knowing Brothers," offering a heartfelt apology.

In a recent upload titled "Non-Non-Non Haters, Come At Me" on his YouTube channel Channel Gojunghae, Shin explained the backstory of his return to television alongside Roo'ra members Kim Ji-hyun and Chae Ri-na.

Misunderstandings, he claimed, emerged when a reporter questioned whether fellow Roo'ra member Lee Sang-min had facilitated his casting. "Rather than saying 'No, he didn't,' I thought it would sound better for his image to say 'Yes,'" Shin disclosed.

This misrepresentation, however, inadvertently compromised Lee's reputation.

Feeling guilty, Shin elaborated, "I was terrified that it would cause him harm. Even the production team felt burdened — they edited out all my funny scenes, and my broadcast turned out flat."

Shin also shared that the infamous jokes, including Hee-chul's quip about "Dengue from the Philippines," were prearranged. "The day before recording, I called Hee-chul and asked him to go all out. I told him not to hold back and to really roast me to help make the show funnier," Shin confessed.

These jokes, referencing Shin's 2010 gambling scandal, drew criticism for glamorizing his past misdeeds. Reflecting on the fallout, Shin expressed, "I wanted to apologize afterward, but I couldn't reach him because his phone number had changed."

With his most recent public statement, Shin has finally communicated an overdue apology and gratitude to Kim Hee-chul for his support during the challenging broadcast.

Shin's career has been marred by a series of gambling scandals, which led to fines and an eight-month prison sentence for illegal overseas gambling activities in the Philippines.

His fabricated dengue fever excuse further tarnished his public persona.