Actor Cho Jin-woong announced on December 6 that he will retire from acting amid intensifying criticism over past offenses committed as a minor. He denied allegations of sexual assault and apologized to fans. The controversy is already impacting his ongoing projects.
Cho Jin-woong's agency, Saram Entertainment, acknowledged in a statement on December 6 that he committed wrongful acts during his teenage years but stressed they were unrelated to sexual violence. An online media report alleged he was involved in car theft and sexual assault in high school, leading to time in a juvenile detention facility. The agency said, "It is difficult to confirm the full circumstances as more than 30 years have passed," and "We want to clearly state that it has nothing to do with sexual assault."
In a message to fans released the same day, Cho stated, "I sincerely apologize for disappointing everyone who has trusted and supported me due to my disgraceful past actions." He added, "I humbly accept all the criticism, and as of today, I will halt all activities and bring my acting career to an end." He vowed, "I will do my utmost to reflect on myself and stand again as a better person." The agency also apologized to anyone affected by his past actions, saying, "We sincerely apologize to those who have suffered or been hurt."
The criticism has already affected his career. South Korean broadcaster SBS announced it has replaced Cho in the voice narration for a documentary. CJ ENM, behind the hit drama "Signal" where Cho played a lead role, said it is "in discussions" about his involvement in the second season, which has begun filming and is scheduled to premiere in the first half of next year.
The 49-year-old studied theater and film at a university in Busan before starting his stage career. He debuted in film with "Spirit of Jeet Kune Do: Once Upon a Time in High School" (2004) and earned acclaim for roles in "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time" (2012), "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (2014), and "Believer" (2018). He starred in the 2016 TV series "Signal" and was set to reprise his role in the sequel.