The whistleblower A, who raised allegations about broadcaster Jo Se-ho's connections with organized crime, has intensified the controversy by making additional claims in response to Jo Se-ho's announcement of his return to broadcasting.
On the 8th, whistleblower A reiterated his critical stance towards Jo Se-ho through his social media. A stated that as a celebrity who operates based on public trust and influence, it is Jo Se-ho's responsibility to manage relationships that could lead to misunderstandings, explaining the reason for his revelations.
According to A's claims, Jo Se-ho has been involved with certain gangsters for decades. A mentioned one of Jo Se-ho's acquaintances, stating that this person owns luxury foreign cars and watches worth hundreds of millions of won at a young age and even receives the services of gang members, alleging that Jo Se-ho maintained a close relationship by promoting this person's business. A also added that receiving expensive luxury gifts and entertainment worth tens of millions of won under the pretext of friendship is not logically understandable.
In particular, A expressed doubts about the timing of Jo Se-ho's departure from and return to the program. A questioned whether Jo Se-ho would have stepped down from the program he was appearing on if he were truly innocent, claiming that it is not a coincidence that Jo Se-ho announced his return to broadcasting around the same time that individuals related to him are fleeing overseas. Along with this, A added claims that the prominent law firm Kim & Chang is involved in the case, showing a firm attitude that he will not stop his revelations.
As evidence for his claims, A released a photo of Jo Se-ho at a high-end drinking party with champagne and liquor in front of him. Jo Se-ho, who had stepped down from major entertainment shows like You Quiz on the Block and 1 Night 2 Days due to the fallout from his connections with gangster B that first emerged last month, announced his return through the Netflix show Driver last year.
As the public's attention is focused on the ongoing revelations and specific circumstances, it remains to be seen whether Jo Se-ho will directly address these additional allegations ahead of his return. So far, Jo Se-ho's side has not provided a specific official stance on these allegations.
