Star instructor Jo Jeong-sik is embroiled in controversy over a transaction involving problems with a current teacher, but he will attend the scheduled interview for 'Teachers2.'
On the 10th, the Truth Investigation Group Sherlock reported that Jo Jeong-sik bought mock exam questions for private academies from A, a current high school teacher, for 58 million won. According to the report, A sold questions to 11 academies, including Jo Jeong-sik, over a period of about five years from 2018 to 2023, earning approximately 238 million won in the process.
This information surfaced in a report titled 'Inspection of the Participation of Teachers and Others in the Private Education Market,' publicly released by the Board of Audit and Inspection in February. In November 2020, A accepted an offer from MegaStudy to create mock exam questions for students. During this process, A also communicated with the representative of Company E, which sold the questions to Jo Jeong-sik, stating that Jo Jeong-sik directly sent 2 million won for the first 10 questions.
Another teacher, B, is suspected of having provided Jo Jeong-sik with correct answer explanations for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) and mock evaluations. Additionally, it has been revealed that a total of 21 current teachers conducted transactions with Jo Jeong-sik.
Such transactions of teaching materials by current teachers for private academies have been strictly prohibited since 2016. If caught, they could face dismissal or resignation, and for teachers, even permission for dual employment is illegal.
According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, Jo Jeong-sik acknowledged the facts regarding the transactions with current teachers. He cited his experience in writing EBS teaching materials as a basis for his ability to produce high-quality questions similar to those on the CSAT and explained why he solicited transactions from current teachers.
In connection with this, the Korean National Police Agency's National Investigative Agency referred 72 current teachers who engaged in transactions to the prosecution on the 17th of last month. Additionally, it is reported that 126 were booked, and 100 were referred to the prosecution.
Jo Jeong-sik is a prominent English instructor affiliated with MegaStudy. He has also made his face known to the public by appearing on the tvN entertainment program 'You Quiz on the Block.'
In particular, he is currently a regular cast member alongside math instructor Jeong Seung-je of the Channel A entertainment program 'Please Help with Grades - Teachers2 (abbreviated as Teachers2).' Consequently, on the 13th, the production team of 'Teachers2' had been preparing for a round interview with the cast. Amidst this, Jo Jeong-sik's transaction controversy is drawing attention.
Currently, 'Teachers2' is in the process of verifying specific facts related to Jo Jeong-sik's controversy. However, it has been revealed that the scheduled interview is set to proceed without changes with Jo Jeong-sik's attendance, drawing attention to his response.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by Channel A.
[OSEN]