Actor Jo Jin-woong has declared his retirement following the revelation of his past as a juvenile offender, causing a significant stir. On the 6th, through his agency, Saram Entertainment, Jo Jin-woong stated, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who trusted and supported me for disappointing them due to past unfortunate incidents," adding, "I humbly accept all criticism and will cease all activities as of today, putting an end to my acting career." He further said, "I believe this is the rightful responsibility and duty I must bear for my past mistakes."

Jo Jin-woong's retirement is related to the recent controversy surrounding his history as a juvenile offender. On the 5th, reports surfaced alleging that Jo Jin-woong was involved in car theft and sexual assault during his high school years and had served time in a juvenile detention center. It was also revealed that after becoming an adult, he was fined for assaulting a theater troupe member and had his driver's license revoked due to drunk driving after his film debut. As these facts became known, the public expressed shock, feeling a disconnect between Jo Jin-woong and the righteous characters he had portrayed in the past.

This has triggered an emergency response in the broadcasting industry. The SBS documentary "War with Gangs," narrated by Jo Jin-woong, urgently replaced and re-recorded the narration. KBS unofficially handled the documentary episode "National Special Envoy Jo Jin-woong Brings General Hong Beom-do," which aired in 2021. Additionally, the tvN drama "Signal 2," currently in production and scheduled to air next year, faces difficulties reducing Jo Jin-woong's screen time as he is the lead actor. tvN only stated that they are "in discussions" without providing specific details.

"Signal 2" was planned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 broadcast of "Signal," and fans had high expectations. However, due to Jo Jin-woong's controversy, fans have expressed anger. They have revisited past interviews with writer Kim Eun-hee and actor Lee Je-hoon, claiming, "All efforts are about to be in vain."

In the legal community, there is heated debate over Jo Jin-woong's past. On the 7th, Han In-seop, honorary professor at Seoul National University School of Law, posted on social media, "In Jo Jin-woong's case, he made mistakes during his youth and received appropriate legal sanctions," adding, "Juvenile justice is characterized by punishing youth crimes while emphasizing education and the possibility of rehabilitation to prevent a path toward crime." He emphasized that Jo Jin-woong's ability to avoid being trapped by his dark past and gain social recognition is a positive aspect.

Following Jo Jin-woong's retirement announcement, demands for his removal from the broadcasting and film industries have increased, and active discussions are underway about whether criticism of mistakes made during minority aligns with the intent of the Juvenile Act. Jo Jin-woong has acted for over 20 years without major scandals and recently led efforts to reexamine independence activist Hong Beom-do. He also represented the reading of the pledge to the national flag at the 80th Liberation Day celebration.

Currently, the dominant opinion in the broadcasting and film industries is that Jo Jin-woong's return to the entertainment world will be difficult. A representative from an entertainment agency said, "Even if it was during his minority, the public holds high standards for the morality of entertainers," adding, "It will be difficult to cast Jo Jin-woong again." On the other hand, there is opposition arguing that scrutinizing the past of a minor who has completed punishment is an excessive public trial.

A veteran film producer stated, "If the wrongdoing during youth was not a serious crime, the Juvenile Act intends not to leave a criminal record," and added, "We need to reflect on whether digging up and destroying the mistakes made during minority long ago is truly for a healthy society."

The controversy surrounding Jo Jin-woong's retirement is expanding beyond a personal issue into a social discussion. Questions are being raised about how to view past mistakes and how to connect them with current achievements. This controversy will continue to be at the center of social discourse going forward.