Actor Jo Jin-woong's side, which faces allegations that he received juvenile protection measures for crimes committed as a teen, acknowledged there were "wrongful actions during his minor years." However, it flatly denied the sexual assault allegation.
Jo Jin-woong's agency, Saram Entertainment, issued a statement on the 5th saying, "After checking with the actor, we confirmed there were wrongful actions during his minor years."
It added, "It is difficult to fully ascertain the circumstances more than 30 years later," and emphasized, "We clearly state that this has nothing to do with any sexual assault-related acts."
The agency continued, "We sincerely apologize to everyone who suffered damage and hurt due to the actor's past wrongdoing."
That day, in the entertainment industry, allegations were raised that Jo Jin-woong committed car theft and sexual assault crimes in high school and spent time in a juvenile reformatory. There was also speculation that his background led him to work under his father's name as a stage name instead of his legal name, Jo Won-jun.
In response, the agency said, "It was not to hide the past, but a decision born of a commitment to himself to become a better person," and added, "We earnestly ask for your generous understanding of the actor's sincerity."
Jo Jin-woong graduated from the theater and film department at Kyungsung University in Busan and began acting on stage, entering film with "Once Upon a Time in High School" in 2004. He has since been active, appearing as a lead and supporting actor in films such as "A Dirty Carnival" (2006), "Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time" (2012), "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (2014), and "Believer" (2018). Jo Jin-woong, who also appeared in the hugely popular tvN drama "Signal" in 2016, is set to reunite with the main cast in the follow-up "Signal 2," slated for release next year.