Actor Cho Jin-woong has become the center of a growing controversy after a series of reports claimed he had a serious juvenile criminal record, including receiving a juvenile protection order and spending time in a juvenile detention facility during his high school years.
Accusations of a hidden youthful past
According to reports first published by ShippingCho Jin-woong, whose legal name is Cho Won-jun, was reportedly involved with a group of delinquents during his teenage years. Informants said he participated in carjackings, drove stolen vehicles without a license and was later caught for possession of stolen property. Further allegations suggested involvement in a sexual assault case, with Jo facing charges under the Specified Crimes Aggravated Punishment Act during her sophomore year of high school.
Reports also state that Cho Jin-woong received a child protection order and spent part of his high school year in a juvenile facility. These claims are based on the testimony of whistleblowers rather than publicly disclosed court documents.
Name change and image reconstruction?
Numerous reports have highlighted that Cho Jin-woong has started using the stage name “Cho Jin-woong”, which is said to be his father’s name, instead of his birth name. While Cho Jin-woong has previously explained in interviews that this was a decision made to mark a turning point in his acting career, informants cited in the report speculate that the name change was intended to distance himself from his past.
Cho Jin-woong then debuted in 2004 Once upon a time in high school and has built a celebrated career through Signal, The Handmaid, Believer, A tough dayand other acclaimed works often portraying police officers or justice-driven characters.
Additional charges from early adulthood
The whistleblowers also claimed that Cho Jin-woong had several encounters with the police early in his career. The charges include:
- A fine for assaulting a member of the theater crew during a drinking incident
- A drunk driving incident that reportedly led to his license being revoked after the shooting Once upon a time in high school
None of these claims have been officially confirmed.
Public reaction: a growing gap
The online response was explosive. Critics argue:
- How can someone accused of such crimes portray the roles of law enforcement?
- If it were true, the public would deserve to know.
Others warn against premature judgment:
- Anonymous statements do not constitute evidence.
- We need verifiable documents, not rumors.
The allegations resurfaced in part because of Cho Jin-woong’s high-profile appearance at the 80th Liberation Day ceremony where he delivered the national pledge, an event that prompted his past acquaintances to come forward with their claims.
Agency: “We are reviewing the facts”
On December 5, Cho Jin-woong’s agency People Entertainment told several media outlets, “We are currently reviewing the reported details. We will release an official statement after confirming the facts.”
No further clarifications have yet been provided.
Despite the controversy, Cho Jin-woong will appear in the upcoming drama Second signalraising questions about potential delays depending on the outcome of the ongoing fact-checking process.
Sources: SPOTV News, iMBC, Dispatch
