Jo Jin Woong: Kbiz's real "banyan tree", exposed to a scandal in his youth and then retired

On December 6, the Korean entertainment industry was shaken by the latest announcement from actor Jo Jin Woong . The actor decided to retire after a series of scandals from his youth in the past were rekindled.

Known for his diverse transformations, from thorny villains to righteous figures, Jo Jin Woong was once a symbol of deep acting. However, in just a few days, his nearly two-decade-long career suddenly faced a serious crisis when a series of information about his criminal past was widely spread in the media and social networks.

The real star of Korean cinema

Jo Jin Woong was born in 1976 in Busan, coming from a theater background, he gradually made a mark in the hearts of the audience through his strong, introspective acting style and was highly appreciated by experts for his ability to transform.

He has made a splash with a series of roles such as the gloomy perverted uncle in The Handmaiden (2016), the honest and touching police officer Lee Jae Han in Signal (2016), or the director of the National Intelligence Agency in The Spy Gone North (2018).

An outstanding career has helped Jo Jin Woong continuously receive prestigious awards such as Best Actor, Feature Film at the Baeksang Arts Awards, Best Supporting Actor at Blue Dragon. In addition, Jo Jin Woong is considered a typical actor of Korean cinema in the 2010s, with a rustic, sincere image and especially a strong Busan demeanor.

Scandal exploded: Media condemns serious past

On December 5, Chosun newspaper opened a series of controversial news when it mentioned the information that Jo Jin Woong had been sent to a reformatory camp for being involved in many illegal acts. Soon after, the Dispatch news agency continued to publish a lengthy article, accusing the actor of having been criminally tried when he was a high school student.

According to Dispatch, around the 11th grade, Jo Jin Woong (then born Jo Won Joon) was charged under the Special Act. The article said that Jo Jin Woong and his group of friends took many cars and drove them when they were underage, were caught handling properties that did not belong to them, and even used the same vehicle to commit other criminal acts.

Part of Jo Jin Woong's alleged record revealed that the group of teenagers "took the car with the engine starting, drove without a license, and was arrested while using it". Dispatch also confirmed that Jo Jin Woong and his group of friends had to go to a reformatory camp and spent most of their senior year of high school there.

Not stopping at his teenage years, this news agency also said that after growing up and graduating from the Department of Theater and Film at Kyungsung University in 1996, Jo Jin Woong continued to be entangled in other misdeeds. He was accused of having sex with a member of the troupe around 2003 and was fined. In addition, it is also reported that the actor was once stripped of his driver's license for driving while drunk after filming the movie Once Upon A Time In High School.

Dispatch also questioned that his name change from Jo Won Joon to Jo Jin Woong was not only to "create an artistic turning point" as he once shared, but also to hide his criminal past, even deliberately hiding his real date and place of birth.

Management company responds: Admitting mistakes in youth but denying the most serious allegations

In the context of public opinion and suspicion because Dispatch has not made concrete evidence public, Jo Jin Woong's management company, Saram Entertainment, made its first statement on December 5. Accordingly, after verification, Jo Jin Woong admitted to "part of the misconduct when underage", but the company confirmed that the actor was not involved in any other allegations.

Saram Entertainment said: "We can make it clear that he was not involved in sexual acts as some sources have circulated." The company also emphasized that the actor was aware that in adulthood, he used to act without thought and felt extremely remorseful. However, much information continues to appear online, making the wave of controversy show no signs of abating.

Jo Jin Woong spoke up, bowed his head to apologize and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry

On December 6, Jo Jin Woong officially announced a statement through Saram Entertainment. In it, he apologized deeply: "I bow my head and apologize for disappointing those who believe in me and support me by shameful events in the past."

He said that he "humbly accepts all criticism" and announced the suspension of all artistic activities: "From today, I will close my acting career. This is the responsibility I have to bear for the mistakes of the past." The actor affirmed that he would take time to reflect on himself and improve himself: "Now, I will do my best to stand up as a proper person."

Jo Jin Woong's case quickly became the focus of discussion in South Korea, not only because of the seriousness of the allegations, but also because of his special status in the country's cinema. Jo Jin Woong is a veteran actor, trusted by both critics and audiences for his ability, having starred in many major film works.

The decision to withdraw from the entertainment industry shows the seriousness of this crisis. Although the company has denied the most serious allegations, Jo Jin Woong's own admission of misdeeds in his youth has deeply disappointed the public.

Many cultural experts see the incident as a wake-up call for the Korean entertainment industry, which places an increasing emphasis on the morality and private lives of artists. In the context of increasingly intense media investigations and a stricter public, any dark spot of the past can cause a famous artist's career to collapse in a matter of moments.

The scandal involving Jo Jin Woong is a big shock to the Korean film industry so far. From a strong actor who owns a solid career, loved through a series of excellent roles, he is now in danger of ending his career because of his teenage mistakes and some thoughtless actions as an adult.

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