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Actor Jo Jin-woong has issued an official statement regarding the ‘juvenile offender allegations’.

Saram Entertainment, his agency, said on the afternoon of the 5th, “Based on what we confirmed with Jo Jin-woong, we have verified that there were wrongful actions during his minor years.” On the same day, entertainment outlet Dispatch reported that Jo Jin-woong committed crimes such as sexual assault and theft during his school years, received a juvenile protection disposition, and was sent to a juvenile detention center.

The agency also said, “This is based on certain verified facts, and more than 30 years have passed, making it difficult to fully ascertain the circumstances, and the related legal procedures have already concluded, so there are limits. However, we clearly state that this is unrelated to acts concerning sexual assault.”

It continued, “Even after becoming an adult, there were moments when insufficient judgment caused concern, and the actor takes this very seriously and is deeply reflecting. We sincerely apologize to everyone who suffered harm and injury due to the actor in the past. We also apologize to those who supported Jo Jin-woong for causing disappointment.”

The agency added, “However, Jo Jin-woong using the name of his father as a stage name was not intended to conceal the past, but arose from a resolution to make a pledge to himself and become a better person, and we earnestly ask you to generously understand the sincere intention of the actor. Once again, we are deeply sorry for causing concern.”

Meanwhile, Dispatch reported that Jo Jin-woong, together with a so-called ‘iljin’ group, was involved in a car theft and sexual assault case, and that when he was a second-year high school student he stood criminal trial on charges of robbery and rape under a special law.

It was also reported that after he became an adult, while living as an unknown actor, he assaulted a theater troupe member and received a fine, and that he had his driver license revoked for driving while heavily intoxicated.

Below is the full text of the official statement from the agency of Jo Jin-woong

Hello, this is Saram Entertainment.

We sincerely apologize for the concern caused by the delay in issuing our position regarding reports about actor Jo Jin-woong, and we hereby deliver our official statement.

Based on what we confirmed with the actor, we have verified that there were wrongful actions during his minor years.

However, this is based on partially confirmed facts, and because more than 30 years have passed it is difficult to fully ascertain the circumstances, and the related legal procedures have already concluded, so there are limits.

We clearly state that this is unrelated to acts concerning sexual assault.

Furthermore, even after becoming an adult, there were moments when insufficient judgment caused concern, and the actor takes this very seriously and is deeply reflecting.

We sincerely apologize to everyone who suffered harm and injury due to the actor in the past.

We also apologize to those who supported actor Jo Jin-woong for causing disappointment.

However, regarding Jo Jin-woong using the name of his father as a stage name, this was not for the purpose of hiding the past, but arose from a decision to make a pledge to himself and become a better person, and we earnestly ask for generous understanding of the sincere intention of the actor.

Once again, we are deeply sorry for causing concern.