Jo Joo-bin Claims "Brotherly Relationship with Son Seok-hee... I Also Removed the Parking Lot CCTV" [Full Chat Transcript]

Jo Joo-bin Claims Friendship with Sohn Suk-hee on Telegram
JTBC States "Jo Joo-bin Threatened... Money Given to Secure Evidence"

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which were then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Jo Joo-bin (25, in custody), the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened minors and women to produce sexual exploitation materials and sold them for money on Telegram, claimed in past chat rooms that he had a close relationship with Son Seok-hee, president of JTBC. JTBC stated that Son was deceived by lies and complied with Jo's demands for money.

According to chat logs obtained by Asia Economy on the 25th, where Jo mentioned President Son, Jo repeatedly boasted about his close relationship, saying they were like brothers.

He claimed, "I am like brothers with Son Seok-hee. We speak formally to each other," and "We know each other's names. I call him Teacher Son, and he calls me President Park."

When other chat participants responded with disbelief, saying "I can't believe that," Jo insisted, "Should I drop the call recording? It's real. I sometimes let you hear his voice when I'm bored," repeatedly asserting his closeness with President Son.

He also claimed, "I can't talk about this because it's private, but I was the one who removed the CCTV and black box in the parking lot in Gwacheon."

Son Seok-hee, President of JTBC Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, President Son was investigated by the police last year on suspicion of causing a hit-and-run accident in a parking lot in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on April 16, 2017, the third anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster.

The police sent the case to the prosecution last year with a recommendation not to indict on charges including violation of the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (hit-and-run vehicle) and violation of the Road Traffic Act (failure to take measures after an accident).

Regarding suspicions that President Son was accompanied by a female passenger, Jo also claimed in the chat room, "I was the one who removed the CCTV within 2 km of the accident site."

Meanwhile, President Son stated in a press release that afternoon, "Jo Joo-bin approached me through Telegram, claiming to be the head of a private investigation agency, and deceived me by saying that Mr. K, with whom I was in dispute, was looking for someone to harm my family and had approached him," adding, "I learned through the police after his arrest that the person who approached me claiming to be the head of a private investigation agency was Jo Joo-bin."

Regarding the threats, he said, "Jo presented manipulated Telegram messages as if he had directly spoken with Mr. K, which included content such as 'Mr. K has already paid money to harm President Son and his family,'" and "Because of this, my family was anxious for a while."

He added, "No matter how much we were in dispute, it was hard to believe Mr. K would do such a thing, so I requested evidence such as bank statements, and Jo demanded money. I reluctantly complied to secure evidence, but Jo eventually disappeared without presenting the requested evidence and was later arrested."

Jo, who was sent to the prosecution in custody, said around 8 a.m. while leaving Jongno Police Station in Seoul, "I sincerely apologize to President Son Seok-hee, Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun, Reporter Kim Woong, and everyone I have harmed," and "Thank you for stopping the devilish life I could not stop."

Below is the full conversation where Jo Joo-bin mentioned President Son Seok-hee:

Jo Joo-bin: "I am like brothers with Son Seok-hee. We speak formally to each other."

Chat participant: "I can't believe that."

Jo Joo-bin: "Huh?"

Jo Joo-bin: "Should I drop the call recording?"

Chat participant: "Do you call him Brother Son?"

Jo Joo-bin: "No."

Jo Joo-bin: "Teacher Son, President Park."

Jo Joo-bin: "It's real."

Jo Joo-bin: "I really call him sometimes when I'm bored."

Jo Joo-bin: "We're just talking on the phone, not exchanging anything."

Jo Joo-bin: "I'll drop some call recordings tomorrow."

Jo Joo-bin: "As I said on the first day, if I say I came on President Park's errand, I get free pass to the president's office."

Chat participant: "Really?"

Jo Joo-bin: "Yes."

Jo Joo-bin: "If you go to JTBC and say you came on President Park's errand,"

Jo Joo-bin: "The secretary comes down and guides you to the president's office via the freight elevator."

Jo Joo-bin: "I'm kind of gentle. Well, that's just the image I put on here."

Jo Joo-bin: "I can't talk about this because it's private, but I was the one who removed the CCTV and black box in the Gwacheon parking lot."