Actor Cho Jin-woong announces retirement over past misconduct controversy

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Actor Cho Jin-woong announces retirement over past misconduct controversy

Published: 06 Dec. 2025, 20:11 Updated: 07 Dec. 2025, 15:16

JIN EUN-SOO
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Actor Cho Jin-woong [NEWS1]

Actor Cho Jin-woong said he will retire from acting entirely, after partially admitting to allegations of crimes committed when he was a minor.

“I apologize for letting down those who supported and believed in me because of my past misconduct,” Cho said in an official statement issued Saturday evening. “I accept all reprimands. Starting today, I will suspend all my activities. I am putting a period to my path as an actor.”

Local media outlet Dispatch reported Friday that Cho committed multiple offenses when he was in high school in 1994, including sexual assault and theft, and that he was sent to a juvenile detention facility.

The report also claimed that he was fined in 2003, when he was not widely known, for assaulting a theater troupe member while having a drink, and that he also had his driver's license revoked after driving under the influence.

Cho's agency, Saram Entertainment, partially confirmed Cho's past misconduct but denied the sexual assault allegations.

“We confirmed with the actor that he had committed wrongdoings when he was a minor,” the agency said late Friday. “But the confirmation is based on facts that are from more than 30 years ago and it is difficult to grasp the whole situation. However, we want to make it clear that he wasn't involved in sexual assault.”

Cho debuted in the 2004 film “Once Upon a Time in High School” under his stage name Cho Jin-woong instead of his legal name, Cho Won-joon. A source quoted by Dispatch claims the name change was intended to conceal his criminal history.

Earlier in the day, local broadcaster SBS said it had replaced Cho's narration for its four-episode documentary “War on Crime” (translated), of which the first episode has already aired. “We are taking actions on the first episode as well,” the broadcaster said.

Cho had also completed filming the second season of tvN's hit drama “Signal” (2016-) where he co-stars with actors Kim Hye-soo and Lee Je-hoon, which is set to air next year.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [[email protected]]