Actor Jang Dong-ju has announced his retirement due to debt, and despite his fans’ pleas, he has not changed his mind about leaving the entertainment industry.
During a TikTok live broadcast on the 17th, a fan asked, “Wouldn’t staying in the entertainment industry be more helpful for your debts?” To this, Jang Dong-ju replied, “Well, that’s true, but in my current situation, I shouldn’t cause harm to other actors and staff,” expressing concern for those around him. He firmly added, “Acting isn’t the only job in the world, right?”
He also expressed some lingering attachment to his career, adding, “If I have the chance to return someday, I’ll give it a try.”
Throughout the live broadcast, he emphasized that he intends to pay back his debts without filing for bankruptcy. However, he expressed the difficulty of his situation, stating, “I received a text saying I would be reported for drug use if I didn’t repay the debt, so I will visit the police station tomorrow to undergo a drug investigation.” He further requested, “What I want to ask the creditors is that I am trying my best to repay, but it becomes even harder if you keep attacking me. I fully understand you’re angry because the repayment is delayed, but please help me a little.”
On the 15th, Jang Dong-ju suddenly announced his retirement via social media, stating, “Every moment I laughed and cried in front of the camera was the brightest time of my life.” He shared that he had been struggling with debts ranging from 3 to 4 billion won, though he has paid much of it off, leaving about 800 million won.
He explained the background of his retirement, saying, “I decided that normal acting activities are impossible while feeling the pressure of debt every day.” He added, “I had a next project decided and was discussing appearing in several other works, but I didn’t want to cause great losses by participating out of my own greed while my debts and credits were not settled.”
During the broadcast, Jang Dong-ju did not mention the allegations that he was involved in a commotion where police were called over unpaid bills at an entertainment establishment just before his retirement announcement.
Last January, Jang Dong-ju revealed that he suffered losses of several billion won due to phone hacking. Afterward, he signed an exclusive contract with a new agency and attempted a comeback by playing the role of Hyun Woo-seok in the SBS drama ‘Starting Today, I’m Human’, but he ultimately decided to retire.
