On May 15, actor Jang Dong-joo announced his retirement via social media, stating, "I have received so much love and support while living as an actor for a long time."
He continued, "Every moment I laughed and cried in front of the camera has been the brightest time of my life," expressing gratitude to the directors, staff, and fellow actors who believed in him and supported him throughout his career.
"Above all, I have been able to walk this path happily thanks to the fans who have always been by my side," he said. "With today, I will lay down my life as an actor."
In closing, he remarked, "Although I am leaving the stage, I will never forget the love you have sent me. I apologize to everyone who has supported me," and added, "Thank you sincerely for loving me, Jang Dong-joo, until now."
Jang had previously caused concern last October when he posted a message saying, "I’m sorry" along with a black screen on his social media, after which he went silent for a day before his whereabouts were confirmed.
In January, he revealed that he had been a victim of phone hacking and extortion. He described receiving calls from an unknown number and stated, "A man who knew my exact movements. I can still hear that voice clearly," adding that the number turned out to be from a burner phone. He disclosed that his phone had been completely hacked, with personal photos, chat logs, and contact lists compromised.
During this ordeal, he admitted to accumulating debts amounting to billions of won, expressing remorse to those who were hurt or affected by his situation. He pledged, "If you believe in me and wait, I will work hard to repay every single won. Please help me."
Jang Dong-joo made his debut in 2017 with the KBS drama 'School 2017' and has appeared in works such as 'Criminal Minds,' 'Mr. Temporary,' 'Honest Candidate,' and 'Trigger.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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