Jo Byeong-gyu's 'Incredible Rumors 2', between expectations and concerns

Actor Jo Byeong-gyu, who was embroiled in controversy over school violence, returns with the drama 'Uncanny Rumors 2'.

On the 20th, tvN announced that it has confirmed that Season 2 of ‘Rumors at the Gates of Wonders’ will be aired as a Saturday-Sunday drama in the second half of 2023. 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 also appear in Season 2, and Jin Seon-gyu, Kang Ki-young, Kim Heera, and Yoo In-soo are new members.

‘Amazing Rumors’, which aired in 2020, is a drama based on a webtoon of the same name that has surpassed 160 million cumulative views in Korea. It is an exhilarating and sweaty demon-fighting hero story in which demon hunter counters disguise themselves as noodle restaurant employees to defeat demons on earth. At the time of release, the first episode started with 2.7%, but in the final episode, it recorded an average of 11% and a peak of 11.9%, achieving the highest viewership rating for OCN dramas in history.

As it returns after three years, expectations from drama fans are also high. However, concerns also coexist as Jo Byeong-gyu, who plays the title role, is still labeled as a 'school violence perpetrator'.

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 disclosed the information lives abroad. Jo Byeong-gyu is working hard to return to work by appearing in a number of works, including the movie 'Even If I Die' and the drama 'History of Fools'. In particular, he played the role of a troubleshooter fighting for victims of school violence in the short film 'School Caste'.

In this situation, the 'Amazing Rumors 2' side decided to take the risk of Jo Byeong-gyu's school violence. Attention is being paid to whether 'The Amazing Rumor 2', which features Jo Byeong-gyu, can continue the reputation of its predecessor.


Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr