The reporters who first revealed actor Jo Jin-woong's juvenile offender record have been cleared of allegations that they violated the Juvenile Act.
On the 11th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit decided there was "no suspicion" and chose not to refer the case to prosecutors, after two Dispatch reporters were accused of violating the Juvenile Act and defaming the actor under the Information and Communications Network Act.
The case began after Dispatch reported last December that Jo had committed crimes as a teenager and received juvenile protective measures. In response, attorney Kim Kyung-ho of Law Firm Hoin filed a complaint alleging a violation of Article 70 of the Juvenile Act, arguing they had "ripped open a ruling sealed 30 years ago and put it on display to the world."
Under Article 70 of the Juvenile Act, institutions involved in juvenile protection cases must not respond to any inquiries about case details except when necessary for trials, investigations, or military purposes. Violations are punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.
Following the controversy, Jo admitted, "I did wrong as a minor," and announced his retirement, becoming the center of national attention. Notably, tvN Signal had generated buzz by moving forward with Season 2 nearly a decade after Season 1 ended in 2016, but amid the Jo-related controversy, the drama's broadcast schedule has been put on hold.