Actor Cho Jin-woong's Past Sparks Widespread Debate Amid Retirement Announcement

Actor Cho Jin-woong has admitted to a juvenile criminal record from his high school days and announced his retirement, sparking a debate that has spread beyond the entertainment industry to the legal and political spheres. The controversy centers on whether it is excessive to judge past mistakes or if moral responsibility cannot be avoided.

On the 5th, a media outlet reported that Cho Jin-woong had committed serious crimes during high school, leading to his detention in a juvenile facility. Allegations also surfaced that he was involved in car theft and a sexual assault case.

As the controversy grew, Cho Jin-woong stated on the 6th, "I sincerely apologize for disappointing everyone who believed in and supported me due to my past misconduct. I humbly accept all criticism and have decided to cease all activities and end my acting career. I believe this is the rightful responsibility and duty I must bear for my past mistakes."

Public reactions to Cho's sudden retirement announcement were mixed. Supporters argued, "The purpose of juvenile law is more about reform than punishment. The past is just the past," and "Isn't it too harsh to completely bury someone?" On the other hand, critics stated, "It's insane to defend someone who deceived the public," and "Moral responsibility doesn't disappear just because legal punishment is over."

The debate has also reached the legal community. Han In-sup, an honorary professor at SNU Law School, defended Cho on social media on the 7th, stating, "He made mistakes in his youth and faced appropriate legal sanctions. The goal of addressing juvenile crime is to enhance education and improvement to prevent future offenses. Cho can still be an excellent guide and model for youths lost in darkness." He criticized the media, saying, "If we dig up past events from decades ago to bury current achievements, the target of criticism should be the media, not the entertainer."

Professor Park Kyung-sin from Korea University School of Law posted a lengthy rebuttal on the same day, disagreeing with Professor Han's "burial" expression. He argued, "The report isn't about punishing Cho Jin-woong again for past mistakes. It merely revealed facts deemed necessary for the public to evaluate their surroundings." He further questioned, "Can the public not criticize Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo for their past coups and massacres just because they were legally punished and pardoned?"

The political arena is also embroiled in the debate. Park Beom-kye, a member of the Democratic Party, criticized the moral standards imposed on Cho, questioning whether his hidden past was something he should have strived to remember and if his current public image could coexist with forgotten memories.

Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform Party, linked the issue to political bias, mentioning those defending Cho. On social media, he stated, "The democratic vote in June showed that DUI, impersonating a public official, and assault weren't issues for becoming president. Cho Jin-woong denies rape charges but admitted to assault, leading to his retirement due to a juvenile record. This creates a contradiction where a president is acceptable, but an actor must retire."

He continued, "It seems Democratic Party supporters argue that Cho should be protected from 'opposing faction conspiracies,' questioning when high moral standards were demanded of actors. I don't hold actors to absolute moral standards, so I have no particular opinion on Cho's case. However, if the head of state isn't very moral, such situations will always feel relatively uncomfortable."

Cho Jin-woong's retirement announcement has escalated into a societal debate. The clash of opinions over how much his distant past should be scrutinized is expected to continue for some time.

Reporter Jung Se-yoon, TENASIA yoon@tenasia.co.kr