Jo Se Ho Announces Hiatus From Activities, Steps Down From Current Variety Shows After Gang Related Allegations
Jo Se Ho has declared his sudden departure from “You Quiz on the Block” and “2 Days & 1 Night.”
On the night of the 8th of December, whistleblower A wrote on SNS, “Starting tomorrow (the 9th), I will reveal them one by one again. There is also a report related to gambling money laundering.”
Then he pressured by saying, “If you keep saying we are acquaintances, I will also reveal photos from before marriage,” and this message instantly acted as a decisive variable that shook public sentiment.
On the viewer bulletin boards, starting that night, demands for his departure poured in.
And the very next day, on the 9th of December, the agency abruptly announced, “Jo Se Ho will step down from You Quiz and 2 Days & 1 Night.”
The agency explained, saying, “It is because of a sense of responsibility that we cannot cause discomfort to viewers.”
The agency again emphasized a strong response against spreading false information, saying, “Choi and Jo Se Ho are only acquaintances, and the exchange of money or valuables is not true at all.”
Jo Se Ho also personally took to his Instagram to announce his hiatus but declared again that the allegations made against him are false. He wrote,
First, I sincerely apologize for disappointing many people due to the recent matter.
When I think about how great of a disappointment this must have been to those who have liked me and supported me for a long time, I worried a lot about what words I should say.
I also worried that a long, detailed explanation might instead cause more discomfort, but I thought it was my duty toward the love you have given me all this time, so I wanted to directly convey my heart and my position.
Since long ago, I have gone around to many local events, and because of that, I came to meet various people whom I hadn’t known before.
Each time, as someone who stands in front of the public, I should have been more careful with my relationships with people around me, but with a younger and less mature mindset back then, I think I was not able to handle all those connections in a mature way.
I am reflecting deeply.
However, I want to say that the suspicions raised due to that connection, which many people are worried about, are not true at all.
Of course, I know very well that the appearance shown in the photos alone caused disappointment.
I should be giving viewers laughter and comfort, but instead I made you feel discomfort and disappointment — I once again deeply reflect on this and apologize.
Going through this incident, I asked myself whether it is right for me to be causing harm to the programs I am part of.
He also addressed his departure from two of the biggest variety shows in Korea, he said,
“You Quiz on the Block” is a program where listening carefully to the stories of the guests and empathizing with them is the most important.
With how I am right now, I judged that it is difficult for me to fully fulfill that role.
Also, “2 Days & 1 Night” is an important entertainment program of public broadcaster KBS, so after deep consideration that I could bring unnecessary burden to the program and the team as a whole, I expressed my intention to step down from both programs to the production teams.
I have nothing but feelings of apology toward the members, the staff, and the viewers who have trusted me and worked with me all this time.
Last year I got married and started a family, and I have been trying to become a better person, but through this incident I deeply feel that I still have many shortcomings.
Even so, for the sake of the family I must be responsible for, I plan to correct the parts that are not true through the necessary procedures.
From now on, I will manage my surroundings and behavior even more thoroughly so that I do not give you the same disappointment again.
I will take this incident as an opportunity to reflect deeply and work hard so that I can greet you again with a more mature appearance.
I will become a good person.
Once again, I deeply apologize.
Source: (A)
