South Korean actor Jang Dong Joo has decided to abruptly retire from the entertainment industry due to serious financial difficulties. He officially announced his retirement on Friday (May 15, 2026) in a written statement before deleting his personal Instagram account.
"Starting today, I will try to end my life as actor Jang Dong Joo. Even though I leave the stage, I will never forget the hearts you have given me throughout my life. Thank you so much for loving actor Jang Dong Joo until now," Jang Dong Joo wrote.
This unilateral move surprised the actor's management. Management W , his agency, confirmed that they had not received any notification regarding the early retirement decision and had lost contact with him for further clarification.
"We have not been able to speak with actor Jang Dong Joo. We need to confirm the reason for his withdrawal as well," Management W said in a statement. The mystery of the actor's disappearance was finally revealed after he broadcast live on TikTok on Sunday (May 17, 2026).
In the video, Jang Dong Joo's face was seen to have suffered injuries from debt collectors . "This is a wound from being hit by a creditor. It would be better if I paid on time, but I can't meet the payment schedule," he said.
The former actor revealed that his decision to end his acting career was based on a large debt he is currently working to pay off. Jang Dong Joo's family reportedly helped pay 3 billion won, but he still owes 800 million won.
He denied reports that this debt was related to the hacking of his phone last year. When answering a fan's question about the chances of paying off his debts faster if he continued his acting career, Jang Dong Joo admitted he was reluctant to harm others.
He was concerned that his personal issues could disrupt the smooth production process and the well-being of his colleagues on set. "I'm not sure. Maybe that's true, but in my current situation, I shouldn't harm the other actors or crew members.
This decision isn't for myself, but for the creditors. Because I have a lot of debt problems, I can't continue acting because of my own greed, join an acting project, and cause harm to the actors and crew members involved," explained Jang Dong Joo.
For now, Jang Dong Joo has chosen to explore other career options outside the acting industry to meet his financial obligations. However, he hasn't completely ruled out a return to the entertainment industry if the situation and timing are right in the future.
"Acting isn't the only job in the world. If I get the chance to come back someday, I'll give it a try. Now isn't the right time. I think it would be better if I focus on paying off my debt," Jang Dong Joo added.
Additionally, Jang Dong Joo revealed that several creditors had threatened to report him for drug abuse if he was late in paying. In response, he voluntarily went to the police station to undergo a urine test and asked the debt collectors not to spread false rumors to the media.
Post a Comment