Actor Cho Jin-woong announces retirement over past misconduct controversy





 

Actor Cho Jin-woong said he will retire from acting entirely, after partially admitting to allegations of crimes committed when he was a minor.  
 
“I apologize for letting down those who supported and believed in me because of my past misconduct,” Cho said in an official statement issued Saturday evening. “I accept all reprimands. Starting today, I will suspend all my activities. I am putting a period to my path as an actor.”

Local media outlet Dispatch reported Friday that Cho committed multiple offenses when he was in high school in 1994, including sexual assault and theft, and that he was sent to a juvenile detention facility.  
 
The report also claimed that he was fined in 2003, when he was not widely known, for assaulting a theater troupe member while having a drink, and that he also had his driver's license revoked after driving under the influence.  

Cho's agency, Saram Entertainment, partially confirmed Cho's past misconduct but denied the sexual assault allegations.  
 
“We confirmed with the actor that he had committed wrongdoings when he was a minor,” the agency said late Friday. “But the confirmation is based on facts that are from more than 30 years ago and it is difficult to grasp the whole situation. However, we want to make it clear that he wasn't involved in sexual assault.”

 

Source : https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-12-06/entertainment/movies/Actor-Cho-Jinwoong-announces-retirement-over-past-misconducts/2471432

Comprehension

What major announcement did actor Cho Jin-woong make regarding his career?
What reasons did Cho give for his decision to retire?
According to Dispatch, what offenses did Cho allegedly commit in high school?
What punishment did Cho reportedly receive for the 1994 offenses?
Why did the agency say it is difficult to understand the full situation?
Which specific allegation did the agency clearly deny?

Discussion

Should a celebrity’s career be affected by crimes committed decades earlier when they were minors? Why or why not?
How much responsibility do public figures have to disclose past wrongdoing?
Is it fair for the public to judge someone based on incomplete or unverified reports?
What role should the media play in reporting old criminal incidents from a celebrity’s youth?
How does public trust influence the careers of actors and entertainers?
What are the ethical boundaries when reporting on a person’s past, especially involving juvenile records?

Vocabulary

Misconduct – Improper or unacceptable behavior.
Reprimand – A strong expression of disapproval.
Juvenile detention – A correctional facility for minors who commit crimes.
Revoked – Taken away officially, such as a license.
Allegation – A claim that someone has done something wrong, usually without proof yet.
Conceal – To hide or keep something secret.
Narration – Spoken commentary in a film or documentary.
Confirm – To verify or prove something is true.