As of December 7, the accuser, referred to as “A,” had removed all content from his SNS account, which previously alleged that Jo Se-ho had close ties to a known gang member. A’s sudden move sparked speculation, especially after they posted a missing story message explaining their reasons.
“I have removed the posts for now. I’ll upload them again once things settle down,” He wrote. “My account may be bombed and apparently prosecutors and police are digging into my personal information. I’m not the criminal here, but money is scary. Yet I won’t back down. I didn’t do it for money, so please don’t misunderstand.”
A went on to express frustration with the justice system, comparing their situation to that of informants in television dramas: “In fiction, journalists who know the truth are killed or suppressed. Even if I know the truth, I can’t do anything in the face of money and power. Korea is really dirty.“
The controversy began on November 29, when A posted a photo of Jo Se-ho promoting a specific restaurant franchise. A claimed that the franchise was run by a gang-affiliated figure named Choi, and claimed that Jo Se-ho had accepted lavish gifts from him. A asked the comedian to clarify his relationship with Choi, further accusing Choi of involvement in illegal gambling and money laundering.
In response, Jo Se-ho’s agency admitted to knowing Choi, but strongly denied any acceptance of expensive gifts, labeling such claims as false. The agency also said it is considering legal action against A for defamation and disinformation.
Despite this, A reignited the controversy on December 5, declaring: “What I published will have major social repercussions and Jo Se-ho will face serious problems.They also reiterated that Choi made his fortune through illegal activities, questioning how Jo Se-ho could have been unaware of such a background over the course of a decades-long friendship.
Adding fuel to the fire, A claimed to have a photo of Jo Se-ho, Choi and Jo’s current wife at a party before their wedding, allegedly held at Choi’s house. One warned: “If you say he’s just an acquaintance, I’ll release the photo. Admit that he’s an old friend and that you’re close.”
Sources: naver
