As rumors that comedian Cho Sae-ho is acquainted with organized crime spread, criticism from internet users has not easily subsided despite his agency strongly denying the claims as "completely unfounded." Immediately after various allegations surfaced, Cho Sae-ho fully disabled comments on his social media and refrained from further explanation.
On the night of the 4th, A2Z Entertainment drew a line in OSEN, saying, "All allegations related to Cho Sae-ho recently raised on social media are not true." It emphasized, "His relationship with the person identified as a member of organized crime is merely a casual acquaintance met through events, and there is no exchange of money or any remunerative relationship."
Earlier, a social media account claimed that Cho Sae-ho maintained a friendship with Choi, who is alleged to be a "powerful figure in a violent organization," and participated in promoting a franchise store operated by Choi and received expensive gifts. The account added unsupported claims that Choi was involved in operating illegal gambling sites and money laundering, fanning the controversy.
At the center of the controversy were photos showing Cho Sae-ho hugging or being together with Choi, which further spread the suspicions.
Despite the agency's immediate explanation, the official social media account of You Quiz on the Block was filled with protest comments from internet users. Responses such as "Don't tarnish Yoo Jae-suk's image; step down on your own," "Is it appropriate to keep having him appear amid this controversy?", and "Production, do some verification" followed, and the controversy did not easily subside.
Some internet users pointed out that it was inappropriate that Cho Sae-ho acknowledged Choi as a "simple acquaintance" and raised doubts about the explanation.
This controversy is bringing back the accumulated damage to Cho Sae-ho's image. In particular, he was previously criticized last October in connection with the "breast cancer drinking party" controversy covered by fashion magazine W Korea. Immediately after that controversy, he conducted an interview with breast cancer patient Park Mi-sun on You Quiz and was criticized for lacking "sincerity," so public sentiment has grown colder.
In this atmosphere, on the 5th Cho Sae-ho restricted comments on his social media entirely. All his posts currently display only the phrase, "The comment function for this post has been restricted."
During the "breast cancer drinking party" controversy earlier, his social media was flooded with critical comments, and with the added "organized crime acquaintance" rumors this time, the comments section had effectively become a venue for malicious comments. Ultimately, it appears Cho Sae-ho deactivated comments to prevent further spread of controversy, and despite his agency's strong denial, public sentiment remains chilly.
Cho Sae-ho is currently a core fixed member of tvN's You Quiz and KBS2's 2 Days & 1 Night season 4. Because image management is important for both programs, if the controversy surrounding Cho Sae-ho continues, the production teams' dilemma will inevitably deepen.<
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]