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 added, "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.
Jang emphasized, "Above all, I have been able to walk this path happily thanks to the fans who have always stood by my side. Today, I will lay down my life as an actor."
In closing, he said, "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 I sincerely thank you for loving Jang Dong-joo until now."
Jang Dong-joo first gained attention in October of last year when he posted a message saying, "I’m sorry" along with a black screen on his social media, leading to concerns about his well-being. He was located the following day, and the situation was resolved.
In January, he revealed that he had been a victim of phone hacking and extortion. He recounted, "A call came from an unknown number. A man who knew my exact movements. That voice is still vivid in my memory. I checked the number, and it turned out to be a burner phone. What followed were personal photos from my phone, screenshots of conversations, and my contact list. My phone was completely hacked."
During this ordeal, Jang admitted to accumulating debts amounting to billions of won, stating, "I sincerely apologize to those who have been hurt and affected because of me. If you trust and wait for me, I will work hard to repay every single won. Please help me."
Jang made his acting 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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