Comedian Cho Sae-ho, embroiled in allegations of ties to organized crime, has stepped down from all regular variety shows, and the uproar continues as a whistleblower identified as A released additional photos believed to be of Cho Sae-ho and his spouse.
On the 10th, A posted on his social media, "Although the controversy has grown because of the recent disclosures, my purpose from beginning to end was one. It was to expose and correct illegal gambling problems and the harm caused by them."
Earlier, A claimed that Cho Sae-ho had maintained a long-standing friendship with Mr. Choi, who is identified as the influential leader of the largest violent organization in the Geochang region and is accused of operating illegal gambling sites and money laundering. He alleged the two shared drinking gatherings, that Cho Sae-ho received expensive gifts from Mr. Choi, and that he promoted franchises run by the organization's members. To prove this, he also released photos showing the two in intimate poses.
In response, Cho Sae-ho's agency A2Z Entertainment rebutted, "Mr. Choi is merely an acquaintance met at events, and there were no payments or quid pro quo gifts." But A has warned of additional revelations, saying, "There are further tips related to gambling money laundering."
Afterward, Cho Sae-ho decided to voluntarily leave tvN's You Quiz on the Block and KBS2's 2 Days & 1 Night season 4. The agency said, "We are taking this matter seriously and will continue tough legal action to restore the damaged image," and reiterated, "Cho Sae-ho is unrelated to Mr. Choi's businesses, and allegations of receiving money or gifts are baseless."
A said, "I respect the decision to step down," and added, "Since Cho Sae-ho showed a responsible attitude, I will no longer share the materials externally and will keep them." However, when some internet users raised suspicions that "there may have been a financial settlement," A immediately refuted the claim.
He asserted, "I never demanded money from anyone, nor was I involved in proposals of money or quid pro quo acts." He added a tough stance, saying, "I will not avoid legal action. Even if there are disadvantages, I will correct the facts to the end."
A said, "My intention was not to defame a particular person but to act on the principle that if there is a problem it should be revealed," and warned, "However, if claims that differ from the facts are repeated in the future or if one-sided legal offensives continue, I will disclose provable evidence."
He also posted on social media a drinking photo, edited to be blurry, that appears to show Cho Sae-ho and his spouse. Earlier he had said, "There is a photo of Cho Sae-ho with his current wife at Mr. Choi's house before their marriage," and had warned he would release it if Cho Sae-ho denied the friendship, so this post is being interpreted as a warning message.
Meanwhile, on the 9th Cho Sae-ho said on social media, "I have met various people while doing event activities. As someone who stands before the public, I should have been more cautious, but I was not," and added, "However, the allegations raised are entirely untrue."
[photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]