Agency: "The Allegations Are Not True... Will Return After Dispelling Suspicions"
Broadcaster Jo Seho has stepped down from the variety shows he was appearing on after allegations of ties to organized crime began to spread online.
On December 9, his agency A2Z Entertainment issued a statement saying, "After discussions with the producers of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' and KBS 2TV's '2 Days & 1 Night,' Jo Seho has decided to voluntarily step down."
Recently, a post exposing Jo Seho was uploaded to social networking services (SNS). The poster, identified as A, released a photo of Jo Seho with another man at a franchise restaurant and claimed that this man is a key figure in organized crime, controlling multiple businesses through illegal gambling site operations and money laundering.
Allegations also spread that Jo Seho had promoted these businesses and received expensive gifts and hospitality. Related photos and posts quickly circulated across online communities, amplifying the rumors of his involvement.
Jo Seho's side immediately denied the allegations, but viewers continued to demand his departure on the broadcasters' message boards, stating, "A thorough investigation is needed," and "The show's credibility is affected due to the damage to his image."
The agency stated, "Jo Seho feels a deep sense of responsibility regarding the recent allegations and is aware of the discomfort experienced by viewers." They added, "He chose to step down out of concern that the production staff might feel burdened by the attention surrounding him."
Separate from his decision to step down, the agency completely denied the allegations. A2Z stated, "Jo Seho has no connection to the business activities of the individual in question, and the claim that he received money or valuables for promotional purposes is clearly untrue." The agency further announced, "We will respond swiftly and firmly with legal action to clear up misunderstandings and restore his damaged image," and added, "We will dispel the current suspicions and return in a healthy state."
The production team of KBS2's '2 Days & 1 Night Season 4' also released a statement the same day, saying, "We respect the decision made after careful consideration by the cast member and his agency," and "We hope that no unintended harm will occur in this process." Jo Seho will not participate in future recordings except for the segments that have already been filmed.
Jo Seho debuted as a comedian through SBS's 6th open recruitment in 2001 and has since focused on variety shows. In October last year, he married a partner nine years his junior.
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