Tian Xi Wei stuns in dual roles in the 'Where the Mask Ends' trailer
Following Jo Jin Woong's announcement of his retirement following his controversy over suspicions that he was a juvenile delinquent, discussions over the truth of his past are now in the news. This time, claims about his high-school days — specifically that he was a "bread shuttle" (Korean slang for a student, usually bullied, forced to run errands, particularly buying bread or snacks, for more dominant students) and a victim of school violence — are grabbing headlines.
On December 7, a post titled "A junior who remembers Jo Jin Woong's high school days" was shared across several online communities.
The poster, "A", first identified himself as Jo Jin Woong's high-school junior and even attached a group photo of their theatre club. He explained his reason for writing: "I suddenly saw my senior become an issue and felt conflicted."
The Jo Jin Woong that "A" remembers was "a senior with a big build and a gentle personality." He described the school setting, saying, "Even thinking about it now, it was pretty screwed," and continued, "While we were practicing for plays, the third-year bullies would come in for no reason and hit him. They would beat him up over some trivial pretext, even with all the juniors watching. They were basically like gangsters. There was really no reason for it."
"Won Joon [Jo Jin Woong's real name] hyung was absolutely not a bully. On the contrary, he was someone who suffered terribly at the hands of the bullies during school life." He added, "I remember, he was a year older than others in his grade, so he suffered even more. He got beaten every day but never once fought back. In today's terms, he was treated like a 'bread shuttle.'"
"A" continued, "If he had been an iljin [member of a gang], there would at least be talk that he got beaten too, but there were no stories about violence. Even with regard to that incident, what I remember from back then was that it was like, if you didn't go along with what they said, they would hit you. I think it was the kind of situation where you were dragged around by the bullies and had no choice but to do whatever they told you to do."
The post also said, "Back then, there were many kids who survived by doing what the bullies ordered. Won Joon hyung was the type of kid who endured everything without saying a word, and if you look at his school life, excluding the crimes, he was closer to being a victim of school violence."
"A" also did not dismiss Jo Jin Woong's wrongdoing. "He did wrong, so he was punished, and I'm sure he's faced a major life crisis. But what I want to say is that at the very least, he wasn't the type who would proactively commit such crimes (he was really just a big, gentle guy). I vividly remember back in high school, even though he was in the same grade, he would get beaten up every day by kids a year younger than him, yet he was always funny and kind to the juniors. So, I'm writing a few lines because I feel sorry."
The post concluded, "Let me say once again, I have absolutely no intention of making excuses for his crimes." "The saying 'hate the sin, not the sinner' just suddenly came to mind, that's all."
On December 5, allegations against Jo Jin-woong surfaced. It was claimed that during his high-school years, Jo went around with a gang and committed serious crimes such as car theft and driving without a license, for which he received juvenile protection measures and was sent to a juvenile detention center. Additional allegations also emerged that after becoming an adult, Jo severely assaulted a member of his theater troupe and was fined for the assault, as well as having a past offense of drunk driving.
His agency, Saram Entertainment, stated, "After checking with the actor, we confirmed that he did commit wrongful acts when he was a minor. This is based on certain facts that have been verified, but since more than 30 years have passed, it is difficult to fully ascertain the circumstances, and the related legal procedures have already been concluded, so there are limitations. However, we clearly state that he had no involvement whatsoever in any acts related to sexual assault."
On December 6, Jo Jin Woong announced his retirement through his agency. He said, "I bow my head in apology for disappointing everyone who trusted and supported me due to my unfortunate past actions. I humbly accept all criticism, and as of today, I will halt all activities and end my career as an actor. I believe this is the responsibility and duty I must rightfully bear for my past wrongdoings."
Source (1)
