Jo Jin-woong at the time of appearing in the film Violence Circle. Online community capture

Actor Jo Jin-woong acknowledged wrongdoing committed as a minor but made it clear that it was unrelated to sexual assault.

On the 5th, Saram Entertainment, the agency for Jo Jin-woong, said “Upon checking with the actor, we confirmed that there were wrongful acts during his minor years,” while not disclosing specifically what wrongdoing was committed.

It added, “However, this is based on partially verified facts, and it is difficult to fully ascertain the circumstances more than 30 years later, and the related legal procedures have already concluded, which imposes limits,” and “We make it clear that this is unrelated to any acts involving sexual assault.”

Regarding drunk driving and assault, it said, “The actor also takes very seriously and is deeply reflecting on the moments in which he caused concern due to poor judgment even after becoming an adult,” and “We sincerely apologize to everyone who suffered harm and pain due to the actor past wrongdoings.”

As for the suspicion that he used the name of his father as a stage name to hide a criminal record, it said, “This was not for the purpose of concealing the past, but arose from the actor resolve to make a pledge to himself and become a better person, and we earnestly ask for your generous understanding.”

According to a prior report by Dispatch, when he was a second-year high school student, Jo Jin-woong was involved, along with a group he ran with, in the theft of parked vehicles and sexual assault; he was tried on charges of robbery-rape under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (as of 1994) and was sent to a juvenile reformatory.

There were also allegations that, even after becoming an adult, Jo Jin-woong was punished for assault and drunk driving. Around 2003, he is said to have severely beaten a theater troupe member at a drinking gathering, and he had previously been booked for assault, reportedly resulting in a fine on assault charges.

Jo Jin-woong in his youth. Online community capture

Below is Saram Entertainment official statement in full

Hello, this is Saram Entertainment.

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

Upon checking with the actor, we confirmed that there were wrongful acts during his minor years.

However, this is based on partially verified facts, it is difficult to fully ascertain the circumstances more than 30 years later, and the related legal procedures have already concluded, which imposes limits.

We make it clear that this is unrelated to any acts involving sexual assault.

The actor also takes very seriously, and is deeply reflecting on, the fact that there were moments after becoming an adult in which poor judgment caused concern.

We sincerely apologize to all those who suffered harm and hurt due to the actor past wrongdoings.

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

However, with regard to Jo Jin-woong use of the name of his father as a stage name, we earnestly ask for generous understanding that this did not have the purpose of hiding the past, but arose from the actor sincerity in resolving to make a pledge to himself and become a better person.

Once again, we reiterate our apologies for causing concern.