“I caused disappointment due to past misconduct. I will suspend all activities and leave the entertainment industry.”
Actor Jo Jin-woong, who had been loved for his righteous image in works such as “Detective” and “Independence Fighter,” has announced his retirement. The controversy began when a media outlet suddenly brought up his past, and the aftermath has become stronger than ever.
On the 5th, Dispatch reported that Jo Jin-woong committed car theft and sexual assault during his high school years, was placed under juvenile protective disposition, and was sent to a juvenile reformatory. After becoming an adult, he was fined for assaulting a theater troupe member and also had a drunk-driving record. The report further claimed that due to these issues, he used his father’s name “Jo Jin-woong” as his stage name instead of his legal name.
As the controversy intensified, his agency Saram Entertainment issued a statement acknowledging parts of his past wrongdoing, while denying his involvement in the sexual assault allegation. The following day, Jo Jin-woong declared his retirement, stating, “I will suspend all activities and reflect as an individual.”
Following the revelation of his juvenile record, attention first turned to “The Second Signal,” scheduled to air on tvN next year. As the sequel to the 2016 drama “Signal,” which recorded a peak rating of 15 percent, it had drawn significant expectations from the production stage. Jo Jin-woong, Kim Hye-soo, and Lee Je-hoon completed filming from February to August. Because Jo Jin-woong plays a central role, even editing itself is difficult, leaving the network and production team in a bleak situation regarding scheduling.
The aftermath continued to intensify. Netizens, political figures, and members of the legal community engaged in ongoing debate over the controversy. The public expressed strong disappointment, with some questioning how someone with a history as a perpetrator had portrayed police officers and detectives. Others, however, raised questions about why the exposure was made at this particular time, noting that he had already served his punishment.
Meanwhile, Han In-seop, emeritus professor at Seoul National University School of Law, stated on social media, “He committed wrongdoing as a youth and received the legal sanctions he deserved. Juvenile crime involves punishment while also increasing the possibility of education and improvement to prevent crime. This is the characteristic of the juvenile justice system.” He added, “If someone brings up decades-old past history for personal, political, or sensational motives to bury a person’s present reputation, the one deserving public criticism is not the entertainer but the media.”
Some in the legal community expressed similar opinions. Attorney Kim Kyung-ho, who gained recognition for appearing as a reference witness in National Assembly hearings related to the Chae Sang-byeong case, said, “If Victor Hugo witnessed Korea today, he might have burned the manuscript of Les Misérables,” adding, “Just as Jean Valjean saved the poor after nineteen years in prison by becoming Mayor Madeleine, Jo Jin-woong lived a rehabilitated life through acting, giving comfort and joy to the public.”
Attorney Kim Jae-ryeon stated, “The purpose of the Juvenile Act is to correct antisocial behavior in youths and help them grow into healthy adults (Article 1),” adding, “Although he is now an adult, publicly naming the actor seems to contradict the spirit of the Juvenile Act.”
Attorney Kim Kyung-ho of Hoin Law Firm filed a complaint through the National Civil Service Center against the outlet and journalist who first reported Jo Jin-woong’s juvenile record, accusing them of violating Article 70 of the Juvenile Act. He stated, “A media outlet tore open a sealed 30-year-old judgment and displayed it to the world. This is a blatant act disguised as journalism.” He continued, “The Juvenile Act is not a shield that hides wrongdoing but a social agreement that helps youths return without stigma. Is revealing the mistakes of a high school student from thirty years ago truly necessary for the public’s right to know in 2025?” He added, “Article 70 strictly prohibits agencies from responding to inquiries regarding juvenile cases. If a journalist obtained this prohibited information through officials or insiders, this is not reporting but a criminal act that illegally breached a legally protected barrier.”
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers expressed different opinions. Representative Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party said, “Is this something to defend? Would you still praise him as a guide for youths if your own family were the victims?”
Jeong Ye-chan, former Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, remarked, “Would you cheer for Cho Doo-soon as well if he appeared on a news program and supported the Democratic Party?” Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, stated, “A contradiction arises when the president is considered acceptable but the actor must retire,” adding, “Some supporters of the Democratic Party seem to invoke partisan logic to claim that Jo Jin-woong must be protected from a so-called conspiracy by the opposing camp.” Representative Na Kyung-won noted that Jo Jin-woong’s juvenile record had never been disclosed and announced her intention to propose a bill requiring the inquiry and disclosure of serious juvenile offenses committed by individuals who become public officials.
Jo Jin-woong has played detective roles in the drama “Signal,” as well as in films such as “The Policeman’s Lineage” and “Believer.” He also appeared as an independence activist in several films, participated as a national envoy in the repatriation of the remains of General Hong Beom-do, and delivered the representative Pledge of Allegiance at this year’s 80th Liberation Day ceremony.
Currently, broadcasters such as KBS and SBS are removing Jo Jin-woong from their platforms, deleting videos and audio in which he appeared. The production team of “The Second Signal,” facing the greatest difficulty, stated only that discussions are ongoing regarding the issue.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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