Further allegations continue to surface against actor Cho Jin Woong, who abruptly announced his retirement following revelations about his past as a juvenile offender.
On December 8 KST, a post titled “The reason Cho Jin Woong rushed to announce his retirement” spread rapidly across online communities and social media. The poster, identified as A, claimed to be an industry insider who had personally witnessed Cho’s acts of verbal and physical violence.
According to A, during a cast gathering for the film 'Man of Will' (directed by Lee Won Tae), Cho allegedly picked a fight over acting skills with supporting actor Jung, which escalated into punching and a chaotic brawl. A stated that Cho’s manager had to whisk him home, while the company CEO apologized to Jung amid the commotion.
A added, “Whenever he drank, he caused trouble with colleagues in the film industry. Everyone who knows him knows this. People say he managed to last a surprisingly long time. His karma is severe.”
A further claimed that Cho’s industry image had deteriorated to the point where he had not received work for quite some time. “So the trick he came up with was making left-leaning statements to act righteous,” the poster wrote, adding, “When you meet him at a drinking party, there’s no one worse. He starts off solemn and gentlemanly, and then it all goes downhill. Anyone who hasn’t experienced it won’t know. His level is obvious.”
On December 5, earlier allegations about Cho resurfaced. Reports claimed that during high school, Cho had been part of a group involved in serious crimes including car theft and unlicensed driving, resulting in juvenile protective disposition and time spent in a juvenile facility. Additional allegations suggested that as an adult he had physically assaulted a theater troupe member—receiving a fine for assault—and had a past DUI record.
His agency, Saram Entertainment, stated, “After checking with the actor, we confirm there were wrongful actions in his youth. These are partially verified facts, but as they occurred more than 30 years ago, it is difficult to fully confirm the circumstances, and related legal procedures have already concluded. We emphasize, however, that he was not involved in any sexual assault allegations.”
On December 6, Cho announced his retirement through the agency. He stated, “I sincerely apologize to everyone who believed in and supported me, as my disgraceful past has caused disappointment. I humbly accept all criticism and, starting today, will cease all activities and end my career as an actor. I believe this is the responsibility and duty I must bear for my past wrongdoings.”
SEE ALSO: Cho Jin Woong lives in complete isolation after retirement and cuts ties with close friends
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