Comedian Cho Sae-ho said he will pursue legal action over allegations of ties to organized crime and has suspended his broadcasting activities, raising attention over whether he will appear unedited on the departed 2 Days & 1 Night.
Today (14) KBS 2TV variety show 2 Days & 1 Night season 4 (abbreviated 2 Days & 1 Night) will continue last week's second chapter of "yangban and meoseum" unfolding in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Amid this, attention is focused on Cho Sae-ho's screen time.
Recently Cho Sae-ho has halted broadcasting activities entirely and stepped down from programs where he was a regular. The same applies to 2 Days & 1 Night. He plans to leave 2 Days & 1 Night after finishing filming on the 19th and 20th.
The controversy was triggered when an internet user nicknamed "ballot inspector" A claimed on SNS that Cho Sae-ho was linked to Choi, a mob boss said to be the most powerful figure in the Geochang region. A claimed Choi runs online illegal gambling and engages in illegal money laundering. In particular, A alleged a collusive relationship, saying Cho Sae-ho promoted Choi's franchise and received expensive gifts as compensation.
Regarding this, Cho Sae-ho's side denied the allegations, saying Choi was a simple acquaintance and that any suggestion of compensation was "baseless." They also said they would take legal action over the spread of unverified false information and malicious comments. A deleted his initial exposé posts but did not stop the revelations.
Instead, photos A had released of Cho Sae-ho and Choi together quickly spread across SNS and various online communities. Viewers began calling for Cho Sae-ho to be removed from programs including 2 Days & 1 Night and tvN's You Quiz on the Block.
A further claimed Choi attended Cho Sae-ho's wedding and met with Cho Sae-ho's wife, saying they had a close relationship. A also said he planned additional revelations to prove ties between Choi and the couple.
Ultimately Cho Sae-ho announced on SNS that he would suspend broadcasting activities. His agency also said it respected his wishes and announced he would leave 2 Days & 1 Night, You Quiz on the Block, and Netflix's Screwballs, among others.
However, Cho Sae-ho's side repeatedly denied ties to organized crime, saying they were merely acquaintances and that no gifts or money had been exchanged as compensation. A also said he respected Cho Sae-ho's departure and stopped further revelations about him.
After Cho Sae-ho suspended activities, sympathy grew with people saying "the decision to leave the show was excessive." A petition for his return even appeared on the day his departure was announced. Meanwhile, the previously filmed portion of Cho Sae-ho for 2 Days & 1 Night is being broadcast today (14).
Coincidentally, in last week's 2 Days & 1 Night episode filmed in Andong, North Gyeongsang, the first chapter "yangban and meoseum" saw Cho Sae-ho embroiled in a "fact attack" remark from the opening. Member DinDin chided Cho Sae-ho and Moon Se-yoon, who had arrived in Andong a day earlier among the married members, saying, "you should have your appearance fees reduced." At that time, a friendship trip photo of Cho Sae-ho and Moon Se-yoon was released. It reminded viewers of the photo of Cho Sae-ho with Choi and, even though it was filmed before allegations about Cho Sae-ho's ties to organized crime surfaced, the巧妙な coincidence drew attention.
Regarding Cho Sae-ho's departure, 2 Days & 1 Night production has not announced a separate editing policy and only said it respects his decision to leave and will operate as a five-member unit for the time being. With his departure, suspension of activities and the additional revelations simmering down, attention is focused on Cho Sae-ho's screen time.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by KBS.
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