I started with "stigmatizing a gangster."Jo Se-ho's 'Quick Return', Is It Really a Problem [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Rumors in the entertainment industry are always faster than "fact-checking." The same was true of the alleged involvement of a gangster surrounding comedian Cho Se-ho. The only evidence was the netizens' claims and a few photos of Shinwon Buddha, but Cho Se-ho had to take a step back amid fierce criticism. On the 9th of last month, he dropped out of programs he had been appearing on, such as tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" and KBS 2TV's "One Night and Two Days."

However, the prevailing view in the industry is that the controversy is not an issue that will stop his activities for a long time, apart from the temperature of public opinion. The decision is based on the judgment that unconfirmed suspicions alone are not a matter that will impose restrictions on the overall activities. As a result, Cho Se-ho will continue his activities through Season 4 of Netflix's entertainment show "Doriver," which is scheduled to be released by the end of this year. The recently released season 3 also appeared without any editing. It hasn't been long since he announced his departure, but it's hard to say that there's enough justification to take issue with his return.

The starting point of the controversy was the claim and several photos of a netizen who called himself a "vote prosecutor." Photos of Cho Se-ho with a specific person spread online, leading to friendship with gang members, further complications, and allegations of illegal money laundering, but no concrete evidence was presented to prove the facts in the process. Neither the involvement of investigative agencies nor official investigations are known.

Cho Se-ho also dismissed the claim as "just personal speculation," and the agency said it is actively considering criminal and civil legal responses to allegations of defamation and obstruction of business in a timely manner. Nevertheless, Cho Se-ho stepped down on his own, expressing his intention to take responsibility for the controversy. Even when legal issues or clear violations were not revealed, it was a burden-bearing choice as a celebrity in a position comparable to a public figure.

As a result, this served as an opportunity to settle unnecessary controversies early rather than grow them. Cho Se-ho returned to his main job relatively quickly through season 4 of "Doriver." Some say, "Isn't the return too soon?" but this is a point that has been reversed. If self-reflection was not necessary in the first place, it is contradictory to question the timing of return.

The essence of this issue is not the speed of return, but the structure that could have stopped a person's career only with unconfirmed revelations. If restrictions are imposed on the overall broadcasting activities based on claims with unclear grounds, this can lead to another side effect. Therefore, the argument that a strict standard is needed for celebrities is also persuasive only when it is based on 'facts'. Whenever unverified suspicions are raised, the second and third tax issues can appear at any time if the structure that requires getting off and self-reflection is repeated.

Of course, the timing of a celebrity's return is always a sensitive issue. However, the criterion for that judgment should not be the 'size' of the controversy, but the 'character'. It is difficult to conclude that 'quick return' is irresponsible if it is a controversy that started from allegations without substance, not crimes or moral deficiencies. The question posed by Cho Se-ho is not "why did you come back quickly?" It is a question of how easily we consumed unconfirmed suspicions and quickly condemned them.

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*This content was translated by AI.