On the 17th, Jang Dong-ju took to an SNS live stream to address recent concerns, saying, “I’m sorry for causing worry. First of all, I’m doing okay. While a lot has happened, as you might imagine, I am healthy and well. You don’t need to worry.”
Having previously announced his retirement, Jang Dong-ju shared, “As I mentioned, I plan to pause my acting activities for a while.” He also addressed questions about hacking, stating it’s a thing of the past, but confessed, “I currently have a lot of personal debt.”
He continued, “With the help of my family and acquaintances, I’ve paid off over 3 billion won of a 4 billion won debt. About 700 to 800 million won still remains. There is still a significant amount left, but I intend to do my best to pay it all back. I’m working hard to repay everything, regardless of the job, so I can be proud before my creditors.”
He revealed that he is being threatened by creditors, adding, “Even today, there were several articles, threats, and many other things. When I woke up, I had 400 missed calls.”
He further explained, “I received a text saying I’d be reported for drug use if I didn’t repay the debt, so I will voluntarily visit the police station tomorrow to undergo a drug investigation.”
He urged creditors to stop the harassment, saying, “I’ve told you I’ll take responsibility and pay it back, but please refrain from sending threatening messages or calls saying you’ll tip off reporters that I used drugs just to get the money faster.”
Jang Dong-ju added, “My finances are completely tangled and I’m in a difficult situation, but I’m trying to resolve it quickly. I want to ask my creditors: I am trying my best to repay you, but it becomes even harder if you keep attacking me. I fully understand your anger over the delayed payment, but please help me a little.”
Previously, on the 15th, Jang Dong-ju caused a stir by announcing his retirement on Instagram. He wrote, “As of today, I intend to let go of my life as actor Jang Dong-ju. Although I am leaving the stage, I will never forget the love you’ve shown me. Thank you sincerely for loving actor Jang Dong-ju until now.”
The day after his retirement announcement, he revealed plans to sell the Calling Art Center, a cafe he has operated since 2020. During the live stream, he told creditors, “A buyer for the cafe has appeared. I’ll be able to repay you soon.”
