On the 11th, Jeong Dong-won's agency, Showplay Entertainment, released an official statement acknowledging the incident. They stated, "Jeong Dong-won practiced driving for about 10 minutes on a mountain road near his home in Hadong, and a passenger recorded the event." The agency emphasized that Jeong is deeply remorseful for practicing driving without a license.
Additionally, Jeong Dong-won's team revealed that he was blackmailed regarding the unlicensed driving incident. The agency explained, "Last year, an acquaintance, referred to as 'A,' took Jeong's phone from his home. A and their associates illegally accessed Jeong's private photo album on the phone." They continued, "Subsequently, A and others threatened Jeong, claiming to have a video of him driving without a license."
The blackmailers demanded over 200 million won (approximately $170,000) as hush money, claiming the video was evidence of Jeong's unlicensed driving. However, Jeong refused to comply and did not pay the money. Instead, he reported the blackmailers to the police, expressing his willingness to face legal consequences for his actions. The blackmailers are currently in custody and undergoing trial.
In 2023, when Jeong was 16 years old, he drove without a license in Hadong. The case has been forwarded to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office.
Showplay Entertainment issued a formal apology, stating, "We sincerely apologize for the unfortunate incident involving our artist, Jeong Dong-won. We are committed to ensuring that our artists grow into mature and responsible members of society through proper management and education."
They concluded by expressing their apologies to Jeong's fans and the public, promising to prevent such incidents in the future.
Showplay Entertainment
Reporter: Choi Ji-ye, TenAsia wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr