Broadcaster Cho Sae-ho faced a new phase 13 days after suspending activities. With the person involved appearing and support and trust from colleagues in the entertainment industry, attention is focused on whether Cho Sae-ho will finish a period of self-reflection and return.
Cho Sae-ho received expensive gifts and promoted a franchise run by a member of an organized crime group, and amid allegations that he drank with a powerful figure of the largest violent organization in Geochang County, South Gyeongsang, he stepped down from all broadcasts and suspended activities.
On the 9th, Cho Sae-ho said, "After much deliberation, thinking that I could place unnecessary burdens on the programs 'You Quiz on the Block' and '2 Days & 1 Night season 4' and on the entire teams, I informed the production teams of my intention to withdraw from both programs," and added, "I want to say that the allegations raised are not true at all. I will take this as an opportunity for deep reflection and work to greet you again in a more mature form."
On the 22nd, the 13th day of his activity suspension, the person implicated in the allegations appeared, and Cho Sae-ho's controversy entered a new phase. Eun Hyun-jang, who runs the YouTube channel "Master of Business," met Kim Joo-ho, the head of the restaurant business at the center of the controversy, and Kim Joo-ho was a 10-year comedian who had appeared on Comedy Big League and Time Explorers, an eight-year self-employed person, and also a close friend of Cho Sae-ho.
Kim Joo-ho explained that the photo he presented as "evidence that Cho Sae-ho associated with gangsters" actually showed the high school son of a franchise owner who worked at the shop, not a gangster. He said, "Because the video in which the photo was released led people around him to mistakenly ask, 'Were you a gangster?' he is currently receiving psychiatric treatment," and said photos taken when he was absent became the basis for the gangster involvement allegations.
He also expressed injustice about the reality of the shopping mall labeled "the country's largest illegal money-laundering site," saying, "In fact, it is not actively operated and does not even generate 100,000 won in monthly sales." He said, "The current restaurant I operate, which required a key money of more than 300 million won, a deposit of 100 million won and about 15 million won in monthly rent, has seen sales plunge and is running at a loss after appearing in the news. Being labeled a gangster restaurant has led to calls for a boycott and caused extreme stress because I worry my family will be misunderstood."
Amid this new phase, it is also noteworthy that support from fellow entertainers has continued. In particular, Yu Jae-seok, who co-hosts You Quiz on the Block, missed having Cho Sae-ho and looked at his "self-photo" while hosting alone, saying, "Cho Sae-ho will leave 'You Quiz' because of this. We worked together for a long time, and thinking I have to host alone..." expressing regret at his absence. He added, "As he himself said, I hope this becomes a beneficial time for him to reflect on himself."
At the 'Punggye-go' awards ceremony, Yu Jae-seok, after Cho Sae-ho was nominated for the grand prize and a VCR introduction played, said, "He could not attend today, but please give him a round of applause." Song Eun I also said, "Sae-ho worked hard," and applause naturally followed at the ceremony.
After the allegations were raised, Cho Sae-ho quickly offered explanations and suspended activities saying he would take time to reflect. While he takes time to reflect, with the person involved appearing and support from colleagues, a path for his natural return has begun to appear. It remains to be seen whether Cho Sae-ho will neatly resolve the allegations and once again bring healthy laughter to viewers.
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