A whistleblower who alleged broadcaster Cho Sae-ho's ties to organized crime reacted against Cho Sae-ho's side's explanation and warned of additional revelations.
On the 5th, A, who had alleged Cho Sae-ho's ties to organized crime, posted on his social account "The posts I've put up are causing a huge social ripple effect right now, so comedian Cho Sae-ho will be in a lot of trouble. And I know who the famous influencer, celebrity and public official who is connected to Mr. Choi is".
Earlier, A claimed that Cho Sae-ho had a deep relationship with Choi, an organized crime member who runs illegal gambling sites domestically and abroad and engages in money laundering. He posted a photo of Cho Sae-ho and Choi with their arms around each other or embracing and criticized, "Using the excuse of being an acquaintance, (he received expensive gifts from Choi while promoting a franchise run by a member of an organized crime group. He often hung out with Choi, a key figure in the largest violent organization in the Geochang area, drank with him and received expensive gifts. Is it acceptable for a national comedian to do that?"
In response, agency A2Z Entertainment dismissed the claims, saying, "The assertions that Cho Sae-ho received expensive gifts from a specific acquaintance are completely untrue." Given that he meets many people through various events and broadcast activities, Choi is simply an acquaintance he came to know through such occasions and "there were no reciprocal gifts or inappropriate relationships," the agency said.
A then posted an additional message, saying, "Of course entertainers are human and can understand meeting with gangsters or drinking with gangster friends. But entertainers are public figures. As public figures who should set an example for many people, it's impossible to say they were simply acquaintances with an organized crime member for about 10 years," and added, "Choi is good at dealing with thugs, so he probably gave a lot of gifts to his entertainer friend. Cho Sae-ho's conscience will speak," he countered.
He mentioned the name of a company that appears to be run by Choi, saying, "Choi is someone who made a lot of money from illegal gambling laundering, and if you've known him for 10 years you can't possibly not know what kind of person he is," and pointed out, "Isn't it a company that Cho Sae-ho knows entirely and has visited?" The accompanying photo that was released included a congratulatory wreath for a business opening with Cho Sae-ho's name on it.
In particular, A threatened further revelations toward Cho Sae-ho's agency, saying, "Before Cho Sae-ho's marriage, I have photos of him introduced to his current wife at Choi's house and having drinks there. I have no intention of releasing them now, but if you keep saying they're just acquaintances, I will disclose them," and "Admit that they were old friends and close. And among the gangsters in Gangnam, they already know that Cho Sae-ho and Choi treat each other like brothers," he also warned of additional disclosures.
Later, A attached a link to MBN's Kim Myung-jun's News Fighter broadcast video and posted, "This is what I want to say to the host,". During the News Fighter broadcast, anchor Kim Myung-jun expressed doubts, saying, "When apologizing or explaining, shouldn't you just address the core of what was asked or what people are curious about? The question arose whether the person in the photo with Cho Sae-ho with his arm around him is a key figure in organized crime, but it's being brushed off as just an acquaintance. Nobody said they were definitely an organized crime member, right? From the beginning, did the person who made the original claims even know what that person does for a living or what business he runs, or are they just saying they drank together?" A thanked the anchor, who voiced his thoughts, saying, "Thank you."
Meanwhile, although Cho Sae-ho dismissed Choi as a "mere acquaintance," public reaction was cold. Protest comments demanding that Cho Sae-ho step down from tvN's You Quiz on the Block poured into Cho Sae-ho's social account, and ultimately Cho Sae-ho closed his comments section.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]