Cho Jin-woong has announced that he will retire from his acting career after a media outlet alleged that he had a juvenile record and was involved in a sexual assault case.
In an official statement, Cho apologized for disappointing his fans and said the decision was the right way to take responsibility for his past wrongdoing.
“I would like to apologise to everyone who has supported me for my past actions. I will accept all criticism and take full responsibility,” he said, as quoted by The Korea Times.
Although he admitted to having a juvenile record, Cho denied the allegations linking him to sexual assault.
Following the controversy, Cho halted all acting activities to atone for his mistakes.
His agency, SARAM Entertainment, confirmed that the wrongdoing occurred when he was still a minor, while denying the more serious allegations.
Online speculation had claimed that Cho was involved in car theft and sexual assault during his high school years and later served time at a juvenile detention center.
The speculation affected several ongoing projects, including a popular drama and a documentary requiring his acting or narration work.
Many people have expressed respect for Cho’s courage in acknowledging his mistakes and fully accepting the consequences of his past actions. –Boom!
