South Korean actor Jang Dong-ju announced his retirement from the entertainment industry via his social media account on Friday (May 15, 2026). He described his life as hell due to hacking and extortion.
"Starting today, I will be stepping down as actor Jang Dong-ju. Even though I'm leaving the stage, I will never forget the love you've given me," he wrote, as reported by The Chosun Daily.
Jang Dong-ju described his life as an actor and the immense love and support he has received from the public. "Every moment I laugh and cry in front of the camera is the brightest moment of my life," he said.
"I sincerely thank the directors, staff, and fellow actors who have continued to believe in and support me despite my many shortcomings. Most importantly, thanks to the fans who have always been by my side, I have been able to walk this path happily to the end," he continued.
Previously, Jang Dong-ju revealed that he was a victim of hacking and blackmail. He explained that last summer he received a call from an unknown number. "That person knew in detail my every move, and my phone was completely hacked.
From that day until now, there hasn't been a single day that hasn't felt like hell," he said. Despite changing his phone number three times and trying to escape the situation, Jang Dong-ju admits he has consistently failed.
In the process, his financial losses have spiraled out of control. To raise money, the family even sold their house. However, the debt from the emergency loan only grew into a new debt burden, increasing the total loss.
“I lost the happiness of my family, and when I came to my senses, I realized that many of my loved ones were hurt because of me,” he said. Last January, he also expressed his regret.
"After being blackmailed, I did everything I could to borrow money. I sincerely apologize to everyone I harmed. I will return every won once I can get back on my feet," he said.
Jang Dong-ju rose to public prominence through the drama "School 2017." He has remained active in acting recently, starring in several projects, including "Human from Today" alongside Kim Hye-yoon.
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