Shocking confession: Actor Jung Woo revealed why he went quiet after the tvN drama Reply 1994, saying the sudden fame and terrifying sasaeng harassment pushed him to step back.
On the 13th, the web variety show Zzanbro featured Jung Woo, Hyun Bong-sik, and Shin Seung-ho ahead of the release of the film Crayon Shin-chan, where they shared candid stories. In the video, Shin Dong-yup said, "The popularity of Reply 1994 was massive back then. But you didn’t do as much as people expected afterward, so I was curious," naturally asking about Jung Woo’s hiatus.
Jung Woo confessed, "The sudden spotlight felt like a burden." He added, "I was grateful for the love, but sasaeng fans surged so fast that it became unmanageable." He continued, "Some even sent body hair or blood-written letters," and "They came around my home to film or even rummaged through my trash," sharing his shocking experiences.
Amid all this, Jung Woo said he had no choice but to pull back to protect himself. "I was scared and cautious, so I avoided people for a while," he recalled. "I also felt embarrassed, wondering if I even deserved that level of popularity."
He also opened up about his career direction. "Rather than chasing buzz, I wanted to go back to where I started — film sets — and build again step by step," he said. "Looking back, I might have chosen differently, but there are regrets no matter which path you take."
Meanwhile, the film Crayon Shin-chan, starring Jung Woo, Hyun Bong-sik, and Shin Seung-ho, follows an aspiring actor who keeps challenging himself despite setbacks and opens on the 22nd.