Actor Cho Jin-woong has become embroiled in allegations that he was a juvenile offender in the past, with his agency now carefully proceeding with fact-checking procedures.
According to entertainment industry sources on Sunday, a representative from Cho's agency Saram Entertainment said regarding the allegations, "The company is also currently verifying the reported content," adding, "We will issue an official statement after confirming the exact facts."
Earlier that day, Dispatch reported that Cho was involved in serious crimes during his high school years, received juvenile protection disposition, and was sent to a juvenile detention center. According to the report, Cho and his group were involved in a theft case stealing parked vehicles, and claims were also raised that he was connected to a sexual assault case and stood criminal trial on charges of robbery and rape under the Aggravated Punishment Act during his second year of high school.
The report also noted that some informants speculated Cho's use of his father's name "Cho Jin-woong," which is identical to his current stage name, instead of his birth name "Cho Won-jun," may have been "an attempt to erase his serious criminal record from high school." However, this remains an unverified claim from informants.
Meanwhile, Cho is set to appear in the drama "Second Signal" as his next project.
