A lawyer has filed a criminal complaint against the reporters who exposed Cho Jin Woong’s past as a juvenile offender, accusing them of violating laws designed to protect minors. This legal action follows the actor’s shocking announcement of his immediate retirement from the entertainment industry.
Attorney Kim Kyung Ho of Hoin Law Firm announced on social media on December 7th that he had filed a complaint via the National e-People’s Portal against two Dispatch reporters. The complaint cites a violation of Article 70 of the Juvenile Act, which prohibits the disclosure of juvenile protection cases.
Attorney Kim argues that the media’s exposure of sealed records constitutes a crime, not journalism. “Article 70 of the Juvenile Act strictly prohibits relevant agencies from responding to inquiries about juvenile cases,” Kim stated. “The law recognizes that the mere leakage of such records can become a weapon that severs a person’s social life.”
He further asserted that extracting prohibited information through public officials or internal sources breaches a protective barrier established by law. “The issue isn’t that a celebrity’s past was exposed, but that the media broke the law just to get clicks,” Kim wrote.
Kim emphasized that his complaint is not meant to defend a specific celebrity but to sound an alarm against media power that operates above the law. “Who would bother trying to be a better person if they are never allowed to move past one mistake?” he questioned. “Is digging up a high school student’s misdeeds from 30 years ago truly a ‘right to know’ essential for the public in 2025?”
The controversy began on December 5th when Dispatch reported that Cho had been sent to a juvenile detention center during his second year of high school for serious crimes. The report also alleged that he had been fined for assaulting a colleague during his early acting days and had his license revoked for drunk driving.
Cho’s agency, Saram Entertainment, issued a statement confirming that “wrongful actions” occurred during his minor years but explicitly denied allegations related to sexual assault.
The following day, Cho announced his retirement: “I humbly accept all criticisms and will cease all activities as of today,” the actor stated. “Going forward, I will do my utmost to reflect and stand upright as an individual.”
The release of the highly anticipated drama Second Signal (the sequel to the hit series Signal) now faces an emergency following the controversy. The massive project, which reunited original cast members Kim Hye Soo and Lee Je Hoon with writer Kim Eun Hee after 10 years, has already completed filming and is in post-production.
Cho plays the crucial lead role of detective Lee Jae Han. His retirement and the nature of the scandal have made the air date uncertain. The production now faces complex issues regarding penalty fees, international sales, and OTT distribution contracts.
Fans have expressed shock and frustration, with comments such as, “We waited 10 years, and it’s so unfair for it to be canceled because of something like this.”
tvN has stated that they are currently discussing the airing schedule and will make an announcement once a decision is reached. Meanwhile, TV networks are already erasing traces of the actor; SBS announced it has replaced Cho’s narration in a documentary with a different voice actor.
>> Cho Jin Woong Accused of Hiding Juvenile Criminal Record, Agency Responds
