Actor Jo Jin-woong appeared on Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory last August. News Factory YouTube channel

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun compared actor Jo Jin-woong to ‘Jean Valjean’.

On the 9th, during a live broadcast on the YouTube channel ‘Kim Eo-jun’s Humility Is Difficult News Factory’, he said, “Jo Jin-woong has retired over allegations of juvenile delinquency,” and asked, “Is a story in which a juvenile offender grows into an excellent actor and a mature member of society something our society cannot accept?”

He reiterated, “Are we a society where Jean Valjean is not allowed to come into being?”

As he opened the show, Kim Eo-jun said, “I am someone who suspects that operatives set him up because of the various activities Jo Jin-woong engaged in during the pro-Moon period,” and continued, “Apart from suspicion, are rehabilitation and success possible in our society? Is it right to socially imprison someone the instant it becomes known? Those are the thoughts I have.”

He also said, “There is the argument that we should view things from the victim’s perspective. It cannot happen before the victim accepts it. That argument is also persuasive,” and asked, “But does this principle operate fairly in our society? There are cases of judicial murder, of people killed by wrongful rulings. Not a single judge has been socially expelled. Why is that an exception?”

Kim Eo-jun said, “I think victim-centeredness is an important principle, but isn’t it applied harshly to popular entertainers in our society?” He added, “A reporter can never obtain personal information from someone’s minor years through legitimate routes. This, too, is a matter for investigation.”

Jo Jin-woong retired after it became known that he had a ‘juvenile offender’ record, including robbery and rape, from his minor years. In addition, it became known that, as an adult, he had prior convictions for assault and drunk driving, sparking controversy.