Human Rights Solidarity Secretary-General: "Cho Jin-woong Is a Model Case Korea Should Be Proud of"

A human rights expert has commented on actor Cho Jin-woong, who announced his retirement from the entertainment industry after reports surfaced about a juvenile criminal record, saying, "Even if he really were a former juvenile detention inmate, the fact that he grew into a successful, well-known actor would make him a model case Korea should be proud of".

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Recently, Oh Chang-ik, secretary-general of the Human Rights Solidarity, appeared on a live broadcast of the YouTube channel "Kim Yong-min TV" and criticized Dispatch's report on Cho Jin-woong's alleged juvenile record, saying it was "difficult to understand in many respects". He added, "If the report were true, it would have been a case that led to prison, not a juvenile detention center".

Oh Chang-ik said, "According to the report, Cho Jin-woong allegedly committed robbery and rape when he was a second-year high school student. That part is the most puzzling". He continued, "Robbery and rape are extremely serious crimes. Actual statistics show that such crimes are exceedingly rare. As of 2024, there are about five cases per year, far fewer than murders".

He went on to say, "If a second- or third-year high school student committed robbery and rape, there would be no case of sending them to a juvenile detention center. They would be subject to criminal punishment. In 1994, juvenile offenders were punished much more strictly than they are today". Based on this, he raised doubts about the report's credibility.

Oh Chang-ik also stated, "Cho Jin-woong himself, through his agency, has said that there was no sex crime involved. This is something that needs to be fact-checked carefully". He added, "It seems like the report was based on hearsay rather than actual investigative records or court rulings".

He criticized the coverage further, saying, "This was an enormous report that could literally destroy someone's life". He emphasized, "Actor Cho Jin-woong is not a public official. He is merely a famous person. There is no justification whatsoever for digging into a celebrity's private life or criminal record".

Finally, Oh Chang-ik stressed, "Juveniles have a strong capacity for change". He concluded, "Even if Cho Jin-woong really did come from a juvenile detention background, if he grew up to become a successful, well-known actor, that would be a success story Korea should be proud of, proof that juvenile protection and family education worked. Why are people be so eager to destroy him?"