The December 17 broadcast of You Quiz on the Block marked the first episode since Jo Se-ho stepped down from the program after six years as a fixed MC. Appearing alone in the studio, Yoo Jae-suk noticed Jo Se-ho’s signature bag placed beside him and remarked with a bittersweet smile, “ The bag is next to me.”
He directly addressed Jo Se-ho’s exit, saying, “The owner of this bag our Joseph has left You Quiz because of this situation.” Yoo Jae-suk continued, “We worked together for a long time, and now that I’m hosting You Quiz alone today, it really feels…” trailing off as he struggled to finish his sentence.
Yoo Jae-suk also shared a message for his longtime co-host, adding, “As he said himself, I hope this becomes a meaningful time for him to reflect on himself once again.”
Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho have worked together on You Quiz on the Block since its premiere in 2018. Although Jo Se Ho appeared briefly in pre-recorded guest segments during the episode, only his back was shown. Production staff confirmed that some previously filmed guest appearances featuring Jo Se-ho will continue to air next week as well.
Jo Se-ho recently became embroiled in controversy after allegations surfaced linking him to an individual described as a gang-affiliated figure. A whistleblower claimed that Jo Se-ho frequently visited a franchise allegedly owned by the individual and had accepted expensive gifts while socializing at entertainment venues. Photos were released online to support the claims.
Jo Se-ho’s agency, A2Z Entertainment, firmly denied the accusations, stating that he had no involvement direct or indirect in illegal activities, including money laundering. The agency also denied claims of accepting gifts and announced plans for strong legal action to restore his reputation.
On December 9, Jo Se-ho personally addressed the controversy via social media, saying, “As someone who stands in front of the public, I should have been more cautious about my relationships.” He added that he was deeply reflecting on his actions while maintaining that the allegations themselves were “completely untrue.”
Amid worsening public sentiment, Jo Se-ho voluntarily stepped down from You Quiz on the Block as well as KBS2’s 1 Night 2 Days.
Following Yoo Jae-suk’s comments, netizens expressed overwhelming sympathy toward him, questioning why he is often the one left to shoulder responsibility. Comments included:
- Yoo Jae-suk must feel terrible one person disappearing quietly would be hard enough.
- Why is Yoo Jae-suk always the one apologizing? It’s sad.
- Living as Yoo Jae-suk is an extreme job in itself. Hang in there, Jae-suk hyung.
- At the end of the year, Cho Jin-woong, Jo Se-ho, Park Na-rae, and Key all ended up stepping down.
As You Quiz on the Block moves forward with Yoo Jae-suk at the helm, public attention remains focused not only on the program’s future but also on the growing sentiment that Korea’s top MC is too often left to clean up situations not of his own making.
Sources: bnt News,tvN
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