The uncontested "national MC" Yu Jae-seok faced another ordeal a month later. After Lee Yi-kyung, even Cho Sae-ho left his side, leaving him alone. It is more bitter because it was an unexpected farewell with colleagues he had long worked with.
A month after Yu Jae-seok lost Lee Yi-kyung, he also lost Cho Sae-ho. Amid successive controversies, they stepped down from the shows they were appearing on, leaving Yu Jae-seok alone. Although he is not the person at the center of the controversy, Yu Jae-seok, having seen two colleagues leave in a month, does not appear to be at ease.
Cho Sae-ho, recently embroiled in allegations of ties to organized crime, ultimately decided to step down from all broadcasts amid endless suspicions. His agency A2Z Entertainment released an official statement on the 9th saying, "Cho Sae-ho will leave You Quiz on the Block and 2 Days & 1 Night."
Cho Sae-ho was accused of maintaining a long-standing friendship with Choi, a gang boss alleged to have operated illegal gambling sites and engaged in money laundering. The whistleblower claimed that Cho Sae-ho received expensive gifts from Choi and promoted his franchise, among other close ties.
Cho Sae-ho's side drew a line, saying Choi was merely an acquaintance met at events and that there were no reciprocal gifts or inappropriate relationships. Nevertheless, the whistleblower's allegations continued, and reactions called for Cho Sae-ho to leave cable channel tvN's You Quiz on the Block and KBS 2TV's 2 Days & 1 Night.
Amid the controversy, the agency said, "Cho Sae-ho feels a deep sense of responsibility for the misunderstandings and rumors recently raised about him. He is fully aware of the discomfort felt by viewers who love the program. He also does not want the production staff, who work hard to make the program, to bear any burden because of the attention on him. After consulting with the program producers, he decided to voluntarily step down." Cho Sae-ho's side said it would respond sternly to the matter, dispel all raised suspicions and return.
With the announcement of his departure, Cho Sae-ho will no longer participate in recordings for You Quiz on the Block and 2 Days & 1 Night. Going forward, 2 Days & 1 Night will proceed as a five-member format without Cho Sae-ho, and You Quiz on the Block scheduled Yu Jae-seok to record alone this week. Because You Quiz on the Block was a two-person program with Yu Jae-seok and Cho Sae-ho, the burden on Yu Jae-seok was even greater.
Cho Sae-ho's departure from You Quiz on the Block is inevitably a great regret. Since the show's first broadcast in 2018, he maintained a two-MC format with Yu Jae-seok, and their back-and-forth often provided entertainment. Yu Jae-seok and Cho Sae-ho showed synergy as partners and frequently appeared together on Yu Jae-seok's YouTube channel Pinggego. Due to this controversy, Yu Jae-seok will stand alone in front of the camera without Cho Sae-ho for the time being.
Coincidentally, before Cho Sae-ho, Yu Jae-seok broke up last month with Lee Yi-kyung, who was a member of Hangout With Yoo. At the time, Lee Yi-kyung was embroiled in rumors about his private life and ultimately the Hangout With Yoo production team said, "Lee Yi-kyung had many concerns about participating in the program due to schedules including overseas commitments, and recently expressed his intention to leave," announcing his voluntary departure. Lee Yi-kyung, who joined Hangout With Yoo as a member in Sept. 2022, left Yu Jae-seok's side after three years.
After Lee Yi-kyung left without saying goodbye, Hangout With Yoo ran a "in.sa.mo" special and drew reactions. Then on the 21st of last month, Lee Yi-kyung posted on social media his position on the private life rumors and said he had been encouraged by the production team during the process of leaving Hangout With Yoo, which caused a stir. The production team eventually explained Lee Yi-kyung's departure process and apologized for the controversy, but as a result, innocent cast members received criticism.
In the end, Yu Jae-seok lost two colleagues in a month, following Lee Yi-kyung with Cho Sae-ho.
[photo] OSEN DB, tvN provided.
[OSEN]