Actor Jo Jin-woong (54, real name Jo Won-jun) is embroiled in a major controversy related to allegations of a juvenile criminal record from his high school days.
Jo Jin-woong was born on April 6, 1976, and his stage name is said to be derived from his father's name. Reports surfaced on the 5th that he was involved in a serious crime during his high school years, leading to a criminal trial and transfer to a juvenile detention center.
According to a report by 'Dispatch' on the 5th, Jo Jin-woong was tried for robbery and rape under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes during his second year of high school in 1994 and was transferred to a juvenile facility after receiving a juvenile protection disposition. Whistleblowers stated, "Jo Jin-woong was a bully. He stole vehicles with a group and was involved in sexual assault," adding, "He committed the crime by stealing a car that was parked with the engine running and drove it without a license. He was caught using stolen goods." They also mentioned, "Jo Jin-woong's gang attempted sexual assault in the stolen vehicle, and as a result, he spent time in a correctional facility during his third year of high school."
Information about Jo Jin-woong's high school is unclear, and there are reports that he transferred between at least two schools. He has emphasized an image of being from Busan while erasing his school days in Seoul, and whistleblowers claim that this choice was made to hide his past record.
Jo Jin-woong entered the Department of Theater and Film at Kyungsung University in 1996 and began his career on the theater stage, making his film debut in 2004 with 'Maljukgeori's Cruel History.' However, it was revealed that he had also been fined for assault prior to his debut in 2003. A whistleblower stated, "He got into a fight at a drinking party and assaulted a fellow member of the theater troupe," adding, "He had been charged with assault before, which resulted in a fine."
Additionally, it was mentioned that his license was revoked due to drunk driving after appearing in the film 'Maljukgeori's Cruel History.' The whistleblower said, "He was driving while completely intoxicated at that time."
In relation to this, his agency, People Entertainment, stated on the 5th, "We are currently verifying the report's contents," and added, "We will clarify our position after confirming the facts."
