Actor Cho Jin Woong announced his intention to retire from the entertainment industry following reports that surfaced about his alleged past misconduct.
On December 6, Cho released a statement through his agency, SARAM Entertainment, saying, “First, I bow my head in apology for disappointing everyone who believed in me and supported me, due to disgraceful incidents from my past.”
He continued, “I humbly accept all criticism, and as of today, I will suspend all activities and bring my acting career to an end. I believe this is the rightful responsibility and duty I must bear for my past mistakes.”
Cho added that he would focus on reflection: “From here onward, I will do my utmost to stand again as a proper human being. Once again, I sincerely apologize. Thank you to everyone I loved and respected.” His statement concluded simply: “I am sorry.”
Background on the Allegations
On December 5, online posts emerged alleging that Cho Jin Woong had been involved in various criminal acts during his youth, including vehicle theft and sexual assault, for which he had reportedly spent time in a juvenile facility.
Additional claims surfaced that, as an adult, Cho had been fined for assaulting a fellow theater troupe member and had his driver’s license revoked for drunk driving around the time he appeared in the film 'Once Upon a Time in High School.' These allegations have not been independently verified.
Agency Responds
SARAM Entertainment stated on December 5, saying that after confirming with the actor, Cho acknowledged “misconduct during his underage years.”
However, the agency emphasized that he was not involved in any sexual assault, clarifying, “We can state clearly that he had no connection to acts related to sexual assault.”
The agency added that Cho also recognizes there were “moments in adulthood where his poor judgment caused concern,” stressing that he feels “deep remorse.” They further stated, “We extend a sincere apology to everyone who was harmed or hurt by the actor’s past actions.”
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