Jang Dong Ju announced on August 3th that he has fully paid off the principal on a high-interest loan totaling 320 million won ($220,000).
“I paid back the entire 320 million won principal of my debt today,” Jang stated in a recent interview. “I’m grateful to everyone who was patient and understanding while I worked through this.”
Jang explained that clearing the private lender’s debt took priority due to its terms, which delayed his payments to banks and personal acquaintances.
“I sincerely apologize to the individuals who personally lent me money,” Jang said. “Now that the high-priority debt is settled, my full focus is on paying back what I owe to my personal lenders and financial institutions.”
Jang previously announced his retirement from acting after public controversy over his financial troubles escalated. Tensions mounted further when he posted a distressing video on social media involving self-harm. He later apologized for the incident, explaining that he acted out of desperation to protect his family from aggressive debt collectors.
Since stepping away from acting, Jang signed an exclusive contract with Universe Label and transitioned to full-time content creation. During his debut YouTube live stream, he received roughly 20 million won ($14,000) in viewer donations.
He has since built a strong presence on TikTok, rising to the platform’s top creator tier within three weeks. Reports indicate that a significant portion of his streaming income goes directly toward paying off his remaining balances.
While Jang remains focused on live streaming to resolve his finances, he hasn’t ruled out a return to screen acting in the future.
“Right now, my top priority is meeting my obligations and clearing everything I owe,” Jang said. “Once all my debts are paid, if the opportunity arises, I would love to return to acting.”
>> Jang Dong Ju Finds New Agency, Nears $2.2 Million Debt Payoff With Hopes of Acting Comeback
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source (1)
