Channel A's 'Teachers' Faces Scrutiny Amidst Allegations Against Instructor Jo Jung-sik

"We will not take this matter lightly." (Kim Seung-hoon, CP)

Amid allegations of illegal dealings involving instructor Jo Jung-sik, Kim Seung-hoon, the Chief Producer (CP), and Yoon Hye-ji, the Producer Director (PD) of Channel A's educational variety show 'Teachers,' addressed the media, expressing their dedication to the program.

On the 13th, the production team of 'Teachers' held a press interview at Channel A's headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Initially, instructors Jung Seung-jae, Jo Jung-sik, and Yoon Hye-jung were scheduled to attend alongside the production team. However, due to the controversy surrounding Jo Jung-sik, the attendees were changed, with only Kim CP and Yoon PD participating. Channel A explained the change a day prior, stating, "We altered the attendees to prevent the interview from becoming a platform for a single participant's explanation," and issued an apology.

Jo Jung-sik is embroiled in allegations that a question from the 2023 college entrance exam closely resembled content from his private study materials, leading to suspicions of question trading. Following an 18-month investigation by the National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency, 100 individuals, including 72 current teachers and 11 instructors, were referred to the prosecution. Jo Jung-sik is reportedly accused of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by allegedly paying 58 million won to a teacher who created the exam questions.

Jo Jung-sik's legal representative stated, "We are confident that all charges against Jo Jung-sik, which have been referred to the prosecution, are unfounded. Jo Jung-sik has never directly paid the teacher involved in the case."

Kim CP remarked, "This event was intended to explain the program, but there was concern it might appear as a personal explanation session." He added, "We had to make a difficult decision to adjust the attendees last night." He further explained, "Due to the nature of the program, which involves a period for academic improvement, most episodes were pre-recorded. Almost all episodes have been completed."

He emphasized, "The decision on Jo Jung-sik's referral to the prosecution is not yet finalized. We are closely examining the related details." He continued, "We cannot simply wait for the judicial outcome. We are carefully monitoring public opinion and considering our next steps."

Kim CP also noted, "Jo Jung-sik is not the only one being investigated; about 100 individuals are involved. Therefore, the production team is approaching this matter cautiously, recognizing it is not merely a personal issue." He clarified, "As the production team, we have not asked Jo Jung-sik personal questions. We only shared information related to the interview schedule."

When asked about plans to change the instructors for the next season, Kim CP responded, "We are even contemplating this week's broadcast," adding, "Although most recordings are complete, we are reviewing everything carefully due to this incident. Since the program features non-celebrities, we are being extra cautious." He concluded, "We will not take this matter lightly and will make a principled decision."

Yoon PD shared her most rewarding moment in the production process, stating, "Our target audience is teenagers. It is fulfilling to see students experience small achievements and life changes through our program during their formative years."

She recounted, "A student who had dropped out after his dream of becoming a professional Go player was shattered, returned to high school, and began studying for the first time. Through the program, he developed an interest in studying and ranked fifth in his school within a year. He is now diligently working towards admission to Seoul National University." She added, "I feel that our work is not in vain. It gives me pride and a sense of responsibility."

Kim CP explained, "Our focus was not solely on improving grades but on creating a shared goal for parents and children. We hoped that Sunday evenings would become a time for families to sit together and review and share their unique educational methods." He concluded, "We started this project with the belief that improved family dynamics would naturally lead to better academic performance. While scores are important, we hope the process also enhances the parent-child relationship."