I love how international commenters always act like their country doesn’t have these issues. There is no where…
literally in most countries no one would give a shit, popular actors and celebrities do drugs and bully others, not just 20 years ago but also now, sometimes on camera, commit domestic abuse etc. and there are always fans willing to defend them. not just in usa, in europe it's like that too, and in russia, and dare I say almost in every country; for a wealthy celebrity to give a shit about some bullying accusations from high school is pretty much unthinkable anywhere outside korea
I have written about how and why the Korean Celeb/Media/Public Suicide Machine is sick and twisted and evil so many times, I won't do so again, here. There is no point.
Jin Woong likely, and wisely, concluded that media scum such as Lily Alice have now latched onto this non-story and will not stop hounding him about it until he either issues the usual, groveling apology they want and resigns, or kills himself. Better to get it out of the way immediately and be done.
We are coming up on two years since Lily Alice and her kind put the great actor Lee Sun Kyun in an early grave, via suicide. I'm guessing Lily is hoping that, despite his resignation from the industry, Jin Woong still might take that route and give her something to "write" about for a massive number of clicks here on MDL.
I hope Jin Woong stays with us, enjoys his money, and lives a happy, full life outside the sick, sick, sick industry to which he's given so much.
This news is sad. I've always enjoyed watching this actor for his solid presence and memorable looks... I recently rewatched Tree with Deep Roots and his reaction shots as the King's none-too-bright bodyguard Mu Ryul are so numerous and brilliantly funny... It's really regrettable we won't get to see him in future. 🙁 The kind of moral standards actors are supposed to live up to in South Korea are hard to understand and accept.
it's honestly messed up that people are bringing up things he did when he was a minor and as we read here he was also a victim in his high school days :/ also let's think that times back then were different and more difficult you never know why he might have attempted to do such things when he was a kid back then (also he literally paid for his crimes so) i just hope he will stay safe and won't do anything reckless.
Producers should just release the dramas as soon as they are done with everything. There’s too much risks ( especially in a society that is highly unforgiving of youth mistakes) for the entire cast and crew. The drama was completely done, why wait to release it in June? Now the hard work of hundreds might not be seen. I don’t know if they’ll get paid.
The whole k-drama industry is unfortunately on increasingly on shaky grounds as long cyberwreckers can take down…
An important sociopolitical question has emerged in the face of actor Cho Jin-woong's announcement of retirement after reports of crimes committed when he was a minor came to public light: Until when should a person be held liable for their juvenile wrongdoings?
“Most of those kids are now living good lives after weathering the storm of adolescence,” he continued. “If we judge them today by their pasts, we’re saying they don’t even deserve to breathe freely. Their situations and environments were different. But if someone has accepted the consequences of their actions and is living with remorse, shouldn’t we be encouraging them?”
Seoul National University law professor emeritus Han In-sup also expressed support for Cho on his own Facebook page. “Cho Jin-woong made mistakes in his youth and received the appropriate legal consequences,” he wrote. “But announcing a complete halt to all activities in response to attempts at public shaming is not the right solution.”
Han emphasized the importance of rehabilitation in juvenile justice. “The juvenile system punishes, but it also aims to educate and redirect — that’s why we use the word ‘school’ instead of ‘juvenile detention center.’”
“It’s commendable that someone with a troubled past has, through decades of effort, earned social recognition,” Han added. “That makes Cho a valuable role model for teens who are still lost in the dark. There’s no need for him to walk around carrying the weight of his past forever.”
Han also criticized the role of the media in the controversy. “If someone dredges up decades-old history for personal, political or sensational reasons in order to destroy someone’s current achievements, it’s not the celebrity who deserves public condemnation — it’s the media responsible for such an attack,” he wrote.
The Korean media is finally asking this question: “How long and to what extent should someone be held accountable for mistakes made in their youth?”
Actor Kim Jisoo lost his career over alleged bullying at the age of 13-14, Go Min Si is under the same threat (accusations concerning events during middle school). The list is longer.
Unforgiveness from the society affects everyone who feel they have failed in their lives, not just the celebrity. Lee Sun Kyun's suicide caused an uptick in male suicides.
The whole k-drama industry is unfortunately on increasingly on shaky grounds as long cyberwreckers can take down…
Your comment was well written and insightful. The speed and severity with which an outlet such as Dispatch can destroy a career and a life simply by posting a story is truly saddening.
The whole k-drama industry is unfortunately on increasingly on shaky grounds as long cyberwreckers can take down any production, any actor, any time. Just a simple truth.
I'm not defending the actor but contemplating whether something done in high school or middle school is according to all Koreans a reason to shut down an actors' career. This particular case is also a legal issue just as the other cyberwrecking cases currently under investigation (meaning Garosero & Kim Se-ui's destruction of KSH's career).
A lawyer filed a complaint on Sunday against two reporters of the domestic media outlet Dispatch who first broke the story on Cho Jin-woong’s past as a juvenile offender.
Kim Kyung-ho, a lawyer at Hoin Law, wrote on his social media that he had filed a complaint against the pair on suspicion of violating the Juvenile Act.
“These reporters tore open a sealed court ruling from 30 years ago and put it on display to the world,” wrote Kim. “This is a clear act of violence disguised as journalism.”
Kim further argued in his social media post that “society has made the difficult decision to give Cho a chance to start over, and this is the intention behind the enactment of the Juvenile Act," asking, “Is uncovering the mistakes of a high school student from 30 years ago truly pursuing the public’s right to be informed?”
“Article 70 of the Juvenile Act strictly prohibits relevant authorities from responding to inquiries regarding juvenile cases,” Kim went on. “This is because the law recognizes that the leak of records itself can be a weapon that can end a person's public life.”
“If the reporters obtained this information through a public official or insider, it is not reporting, but a criminal act that illegally breached the protected barrier of justice,” the lawyer argued.
Kim further claimed that the reporting on Cho’s past was “an act of commercial voyeurism that mocks the rule of law,” arguing that “our society’s correctional system will collapse if the act of forcibly opening the doors closed by law is tolerated.”
I have said and will say: only a nation of adult children needs actor's to be role models. Acting is a profession. Morality clauses in contracts are bringing down South Korean actors in an accelerated pace. Accusations need not be true or proven as true for the actor to loose all of his work, earnings and career. Sometimes lives are lost, as in the Lee Sun Kyun case. Media profits from scandals and controversies. The situation where the k-drama industry is completely at the mercy of gossip media is financially untenable as investments are becoming too risky. Maybe from the MDL staff writers POV this a good thing. The more dead actors, the more clicks.
I'm not defending Jo Jin Woong's crimes but pointing out the macroeconomics behind all this.
I would blame Kim Sae Ron Parent\Family and relatives --- why they did not help her while she was down? Me thinking, the massive debt of their daughter was they're doing. If the family supported " Kim Sae Ron" she will not be in these situations. Family first to support you, while you are still able and not take advantage or just leave you alone when you needed the most love and care -- the mother --- she's the key point. Why would the parents after the daughter died start accusing -- was it because for blackmail?? duhhhh parents, are the greatest support. But not a support for taking advantaged of already dead daughter. You are making your daughter's name dirty and no dignity.
not just in usa, in europe it's like that too, and in russia, and dare I say almost in every country; for a wealthy celebrity to give a shit about some bullying accusations from high school is pretty much unthinkable anywhere outside korea
I have written about how and why the Korean Celeb/Media/Public Suicide Machine is sick and twisted and evil so many times, I won't do so again, here. There is no point.
Jin Woong likely, and wisely, concluded that media scum such as Lily Alice have now latched onto this non-story and will not stop hounding him about it until he either issues the usual, groveling apology they want and resigns, or kills himself. Better to get it out of the way immediately and be done.
We are coming up on two years since Lily Alice and her kind put the great actor Lee Sun Kyun in an early grave, via suicide. I'm guessing Lily is hoping that, despite his resignation from the industry, Jin Woong still might take that route and give her something to "write" about for a massive number of clicks here on MDL.
I hope Jin Woong stays with us, enjoys his money, and lives a happy, full life outside the sick, sick, sick industry to which he's given so much.
Lily Alic, You. Are. A. Blood-sucker.
“Most of those kids are now living good lives after weathering the storm of adolescence,” he continued. “If we judge them today by their pasts, we’re saying they don’t even deserve to breathe freely. Their situations and environments were different. But if someone has accepted the consequences of their actions and is living with remorse, shouldn’t we be encouraging them?”
Seoul National University law professor emeritus Han In-sup also expressed support for Cho on his own Facebook page. “Cho Jin-woong made mistakes in his youth and received the appropriate legal consequences,” he wrote. “But announcing a complete halt to all activities in response to attempts at public shaming is not the right solution.”
Han emphasized the importance of rehabilitation in juvenile justice. “The juvenile system punishes, but it also aims to educate and redirect — that’s why we use the word ‘school’ instead of ‘juvenile detention center.’”
“It’s commendable that someone with a troubled past has, through decades of effort, earned social recognition,” Han added. “That makes Cho a valuable role model for teens who are still lost in the dark. There’s no need for him to walk around carrying the weight of his past forever.”
Han also criticized the role of the media in the controversy. “If someone dredges up decades-old history for personal, political or sensational reasons in order to destroy someone’s current achievements, it’s not the celebrity who deserves public condemnation — it’s the media responsible for such an attack,” he wrote.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-12-07/national/socialAffairs/Actor-Cho-Jinwoongs-retirement-sparks-debate-on-juvenile-accountability/2471571
The Korean media is finally asking this question: “How long and to what extent should someone be held accountable for mistakes made in their youth?”
Actor Kim Jisoo lost his career over alleged bullying at the age of 13-14, Go Min Si is under the same threat (accusations concerning events during middle school). The list is longer.
Unforgiveness from the society affects everyone who feel they have failed in their lives, not just the celebrity. Lee Sun Kyun's suicide caused an uptick in male suicides.
I'm not defending the actor but contemplating whether something done in high school or middle school is according to all Koreans a reason to shut down an actors' career. This particular case is also a legal issue just as the other cyberwrecking cases currently under investigation (meaning Garosero & Kim Se-ui's destruction of KSH's career).
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-12-08/entertainment/television/Lawyer-files-complaint-against-reporters-who-broke-story-of-actor-Cho-Jinwoongs-juvenile-record/2472159
A lawyer filed a complaint on Sunday against two reporters of the domestic media outlet Dispatch who first broke the story on Cho Jin-woong’s past as a juvenile offender.
Kim Kyung-ho, a lawyer at Hoin Law, wrote on his social media that he had filed a complaint against the pair on suspicion of violating the Juvenile Act.
“These reporters tore open a sealed court ruling from 30 years ago and put it on display to the world,” wrote Kim. “This is a clear act of violence disguised as journalism.”
Kim further argued in his social media post that “society has made the difficult decision to give Cho a chance to start over, and this is the intention behind the enactment of the Juvenile Act," asking, “Is uncovering the mistakes of a high school student from 30 years ago truly pursuing the public’s right to be informed?”
“Article 70 of the Juvenile Act strictly prohibits relevant authorities from responding to inquiries regarding juvenile cases,” Kim went on. “This is because the law recognizes that the leak of records itself can be a weapon that can end a person's public life.”
“If the reporters obtained this information through a public official or insider, it is not reporting, but a criminal act that illegally breached the protected barrier of justice,” the lawyer argued.
Kim further claimed that the reporting on Cho’s past was “an act of commercial voyeurism that mocks the rule of law,” arguing that “our society’s correctional system will collapse if the act of forcibly opening the doors closed by law is tolerated.”
I have said and will say: only a nation of adult children needs actor's to be role models. Acting is a profession. Morality clauses in contracts are bringing down South Korean actors in an accelerated pace. Accusations need not be true or proven as true for the actor to loose all of his work, earnings and career. Sometimes lives are lost, as in the Lee Sun Kyun case. Media profits from scandals and controversies. The situation where the k-drama industry is completely at the mercy of gossip media is financially untenable as investments are becoming too risky. Maybe from the MDL staff writers POV this a good thing. The more dead actors, the more clicks.
I'm not defending Jo Jin Woong's crimes but pointing out the macroeconomics behind all this.