Jo Byeong-gyu makes a proud return to ‘Wonderful Rumors 2’

Actor Jo Byeong-gyu, who is embroiled in controversy over school violence and is playing a truth game with ordinary people claiming to be victims, returns with the tvN drama 'Uncanny Rumors 2'. Actor Shim Eun-woo, who is suspected of being a perpetrator of school violence, recently posted a post expressing his feelings and expressed his sense of injustice. While public interest in the issue of school violence has increased due to Netflix's 'The Glory', attention is focused on the future actions of actors who have been involved in school violence controversy.

On the 20th, tvN announced that it had confirmed the programming of 'Rumors in Wonderland 2' as a Saturday-Sunday drama in the second half of this year. In addition to Jo Byeong-gyu, actors Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran, and Ahn Seok-hwan who appeared in Season 1 will also appear in Season 2. Jin Seon-gyu, Kang Ki-young, Kim Heera, and Yoo In-su are new members.

'Wonderful Rumors 2' is an exhilarating and sweaty demon-fighting hero story in which demon hunter counters, who have become stronger with new abilities and the recruitment of new members, defeat evil demons on the earth that have become more evil. It started with 2.7% in the first episode of Season 1, which aired in 2020, and reached 11.0% in the 16th and final episode, achieving the highest viewership rating among OCN's all-time dramas. Viewers who enjoyed Season 1 welcomed the news that Season 2 was being produced, but were displeased with the fact that the main character, Jo Byeong-gyu, was involved in a school violence controversy.

Suspicions of Jo Byeong-gyu's school violence arose in 2021. In response to the revelations of school violence that began with classmates while studying abroad in New Zealand, Byeong-gyu Jo's side maintained the position that it was "groundless" and claimed that the person who first exposed it admitted the false information and sent an apology. However, the first exposer caused a stir by saying, "I have never written an apology, I have never appealed for leniency, and I never will in the future."

Jo Byeong-gyu's agency is taking legal action against the person who disclosed the information, but progress is slow because the person who exposed the information lives abroad. The truth game continues. Meanwhile, Jo Byeong-gyu appeared in many works such as the movie 'Even If I Die' and the drama 'History of Slums' while being labeled as a 'school violence controversy', and especially played the role of a solver fighting for victims of school violence in the short film 'School Caste'. did. This time, 'Rumors of Wonders 2' is expected to be controversial again as it is aired more openly on a more popular platform.

Actor Shim Eun-woo, who was suspected of committing school violence two years ago, complained of injustice, saying that the recent apology for school violence led to stigmatization. Shim Eun-woo wrote on her online account last March, "It has been more than two years since I have been labeled as a 'school violence perpetrator' and a 'school violence actor.' Since the day the drama 'The Glory' aired in January of this year, the second He posted his thoughts, saying, “I was additionally labeled as a member of .”

Shim Eun-woo was designated as a perpetrator of school violence in March 2021. In an online community, author A claimed that Shim Eun-woo did not commit physical violence, but caused extreme emotional violence. According to Mr. A, surrounding him with a group of people and swearing was basic, and through false information, he drove a wedge between Mr. A and his close friends. Because of this, Mr. A is said to have had a difficult time at school, having transferred schools several times.

Shim Eun-woo said that he did not remember what happened at the time and that he wanted to apologize, so he called Person A's sister, but Person A did not want to talk or meet him. Shim Eun-woo said, "After that, I looked back on my life every day. When I was in school, of course, I was not a model student. If I had been, there wouldn't have been issues like this. Moreover, I will truly confess, especially in my first year of middle school, I was more greedy, selfish, and jealous than others. “There were a lot of people and I wanted to stand out, but I was a person who was truly lacking,” he confessed. However, he expressed, "It is very upsetting and difficult that my entire school days were mistaken for being a perpetrator of school violence, and now Yeonjin, the second member of The Glory who has inflicted cruel physical harm, has been stigmatized as someone like Yeonjin." However, the public criticized Shim Eun-woo's confession, saying, 'Isn't this a sign of a comeback?'

Jisoo, who was involved in a school violence controversy, withdrew from the drama she was appearing in at the time and suspended her activities. In addition, actors Dong-ha, Park Hye-soo, and singer Hwang Young-woong were unable to shake off suspicions of school violence.

Recently, with the release of 'The Glory', awareness of the seriousness of the school violence problem has grown, and there are voices calling for a social structure to be created in which perpetrators can be severely punished. Of course, it is difficult to determine right or wrong with Jo Byeong-gyu because there are ordinary people overseas who claim to be victims. Even so, as the controversy is still ongoing, he has no choice but to bear the criticism that comes with continuing his activities 'proudly'.

Public awareness of school violence suspicions is becoming more stringent. The drama 'The Glory' ended with the perpetrator of school violence, Park Yeon-jin, being imprisoned and receiving back for her evil deeds. How will the suspicions and controversies surrounding the two actors end?

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr