On December 5, the anonymous accuser identified as A made a post on personal SNS, stating, “What I posted will have major social repercussions and Jo Se-ho will face serious problems,” adding that they were aware of “famous influencers, celebrities and even public officials linked to Choi.” While acknowledging that celebrities are human and can socialize with anyone, A asked, “Does it make sense for a public figure to describe a decade-long relationship with a gang member as just a ‘casual acquaintance’?”
Another escalated the accusations further by stating, “If you’ve known someone for 10 years, it’s hard to believe you wouldn’t know what kind of business they do. Didn’t you know about their company? Haven’t you visited their business?” A also suggested that expensive gifts would likely have been exchanged, stating, “There’s no way Choi didn’t give their famous friend an expensive gift. Jo Se-ho’s conscience will speak for itself.”
The controversy reached a new level when A directly mentioned Jo Se-ho’s wife. A said, “Before Jo Se-ho got married, I have a photo of him drinking with his current wife at Choi’s house.” While stating that there was no desire to publish the photo, A warned that continued claims of “just a casual acquaintance” would leave no choice but to make the image public. A further stated that within the Gangnam area, their close relationship was already widely known.
A further reference to MBN’s Kim Myung-joon’s News Fighter, thanking the host for addressing the central question: whether the individual in the photos is indeed a key gang figure and what kind of activities he carries out, underlining that these essential questions still lack clear answers.
Previously, A had claimed that Jo Se-ho maintained a close relationship with Choi, who was said to be involved in illegal gambling and money laundering. An accomplished Jo Se-ho promoted Choi’s franchise business and accepted expensive gifts, sharing photos of the two posing hugging and embracing, asking, “Does it make sense for the nation’s favorite comedian to receive luxury gifts from a gang figure?”
In response, Jo Se-ho’s agency, A2Z Entertainment, strongly denied all allegations, saying they are based solely on the accuser’s speculation. The agency admitted that Jo Se-ho knows Choi personally but stressed that they are “mere acquaintances,” adding that claims of expensive gifts or improper relationships are entirely false. The company has confirmed that it is actively considering legal action for defamation.
Jo Se-ho married his wife, former model Jung Soo-ji, in October last year in a lavish wedding attended by over 900 guests. The couple then shared glimpses of their honeymoon via social media, attracting public attention. Now, with his wife embroiled in the controversy, the scope and impact of the scandal has grown significantly, placing even more pressure on the comedian as public scrutiny intensifies.
Sources: Daum
