Criticism Intensifies...
Lee Withdraws Social Media Post Amid Accusations of "Glorifying Crime"
Jo Jinwoong Announces Retirement Following Allegations of High School Criminal Involvement
Actor Jo Jinwoong announced his retirement following controversy over allegations that he was involved in criminal activities during his high school years. In the aftermath, singer Lee Jungseok faced strong backlash after posting a message that appeared to defend Jo.
On December 6, Lee wrote on his social media, "Retire from the entertainment industry? Why push someone that far. Have you all lived so perfectly, and are you living so perfectly now? The world is disappointing and filthy." Although he did not mention Jo by name, the post appeared immediately after Jo's retirement announcement and was interpreted as a message directed at him.
This led to a wave of criticism, with comments such as "Are you defending crime?" and "It is problematic to equate heinous crimes with simple mistakes." As the controversy grew, Lee eventually deleted the post.
Previously, Jo was at the center of a major scandal after Dispatch reported allegations that he had been involved in robbery, rape, and car theft during his high school years, and had received juvenile protection measures. The outlet reported that Jo Jinwoong, then a second-year high school student in 1994, was tried in criminal court on charges of robbery and rape under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The report also revealed that, as an adult, he had been fined for assault and had his driver's license revoked for drunk driving.
His agency, Saram Entertainment, acknowledged, "It is true that he made mistakes as a minor," but denied the sexual assault allegations. The agency also explained that Jo used his father's name as a stage name not to hide his past, but as a commitment to becoming a better person.
However, criticism continued over the agency's failure to provide a detailed account of the circumstances, and the controversy persisted. Ultimately, Jo announced his retirement the following day, stating, "I apologize for the disappointment caused by my past wrongdoing. I accept all criticism and will cease my acting career as of today. This is the responsibility I must bear as a human being."
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