'Please Take Care of My Grades Teachers Season 2' (hereinafter 'Teachers 2') cast member English instructor Jo Jeong-sik is embroiled in allegations of 'illegal question transactions,' raising concerns about the show's integrity. In response, the 'Teachers 2' production team directly shared their stance on the controversy through an interview. The production team claimed they were unaware of any related facts before the controversy arose and maintained that, as this matter is under investigation, it is difficult to make premature judgments or actions.
On the 13th, an interview for the Channel A entertainment program 'Please Take Care of My Grades Teachers Season 2' (hereinafter 'Teachers 2') was held at the DDMC in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Present at the event were Chief Producer Kim Seung-hoon and Producer Yoon Hye-ji.
'Teachers 2' is a program that provides tailored solutions from Korea's top instructors to students and families concerned about grades. The first season, which aired from Nov. 2023 to Oct. 2024, recorded a peak viewership rating of 1.7% (according to Nielsen Korea's national standards) and received much love, while season 2, featuring Yoon Hye-jung, has been meeting viewers since May.
▲ Allegations of '200 billion won illegal question transactions'… Jo Jeong-sik instructor controversy
The allegations surrounding instructor Jo Jeong-sik came to light through a report by the Truth Investigation Group 'Sherlock' on the 10th. According to the report, Jo Jeong-sik is accused of purchasing mock exam questions from a current high school teacher, referred to as Mr. A, for 58 million won. Mr. A reportedly sold questions to 11 academies, including Jo Jeong-sik, for about five years from 2018 to 2023, earning around 238 million won. Trading question items for academy teaching materials by current teachers has been strictly prohibited since 2016, and serious action can be taken, such as dismissal or termination, if discovered.
In response, Jo Jeong-sik's side refuted the report through a legal representative, stating that the details included "parts that are not true and that are seriously damaging to the instructor's reputation and social trust." They particularly asserted that they are certain that all allegations sent to prosecution are 'not guilty' and strongly denied the claim of having directly paid 58 million won.
▲ Production team says "we were unaware of the controversy"… Is 'Teachers 2' losing its integrity?
As serious allegations against a cast member surfaced, Chief Producer Kim Seung-hoon and Producer Yoon Hye-ji expressed their stance in an interview. Chief Producer Kim said, "The production team was also unaware of the controversy." He explained that he was only aware of the fact that Jo Jeong-sik was included as a witness in a large-scale investigation earlier this year and only recently learned of the prosecution's referral.
In particular, the production team maintained a cautious stance, stating, "No facts have been revealed yet, so we are not taking any actions." Regarding concerns that the integrity of the program may be shaken, Chief Producer Kim acknowledged, "Regardless of the outcome, just having such allegations arise impacts the program." However, he added that, "Since the investigation is still ongoing, Jo Jeong-sik has not provided any insights," and, given the nature of educational-related programs, "we cannot unilaterally take any actions."
Instructor Jo Jeong-sik was initially scheduled to attend the interview, but the production team stated that they decided against his participation, reasoning that "there is a significant concern that this round of interviews could deviate from the original intent." Currently, 'Teachers 2' is expected to air the pre-produced content as planned. The production team emphasized that, "That doesn't mean we are disregarding public opinion. Being an education-related program, we pay more attention to public sentiment" and that they are closely monitoring the situation.
▲ Reconfirming 'casting criteria'… Attention on the direction of the truth war
Amid this controversy, the importance of verifying cast members has resurfaced, and the production team stated, "That doesn't mean we have recruited without any criteria. We have always checked." They clarified their casting process and plan to exercise increased caution in recruiting cast members as the season progresses.
'Teachers 2' has encountered a stumbling block with cast member controversies while its viewership ratings are currently somewhat lower than season 1. The production team expressed their determination, stating, "I believe (the ratings) will rise starting this week. We will strive to make it perform well." However, the truth war surrounding the allegations of illegal question transactions against Jo Jeong-sik is still ongoing, and interest is focused on how the future investigation results will affect Jo Jeong-sik's career and 'Teachers 2.'
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