In a shocking shake-up sparked by Jo Jin-woong’s personal scandal, tvN has pulled ‘Signal 2’ from its schedule — and Lee Min-ho’s Apple TV+ hit Pachinko will reportedly fill the slot.
According to multiple reports on the 17th, tvN’s new drama The Second Signal (hereafter ‘Signal 2’) was ultimately dropped from final scheduling due to backlash over Jo Jin-woong’s past criminal record.
tvN decided to program Apple TV+’s original series Pachinko in its place, adding that the exact broadcast timeline for ‘Signal 2’ remains undecided.
‘Signal 2’ is the sequel to the beloved 2016 series Signal, where the past and present connect through a walkie-talkie to solve long-unsolved cold cases. Planned to mark tvN’s 20th anniversary, the high-profile project reunited original leads Kim Hye-soo, Lee Je-hoon, and Jo Jin-woong, fueling massive anticipation from the start.
But in December last year, revelations about Jo Jin-woong’s high school car theft and a past DUI license cancellation threw the broadcast plan into turmoil. As the controversy spiraled, Jo issued an apology — “I sincerely apologize for causing great disappointment with my past misconduct” — and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.
tvN stated, “We have poured our hearts into preparing ‘Signal 2’ for viewers who have waited ten years,” adding, “Even if it takes time, we will work to find the best possible solution.”
Internally, the network is reportedly exploring multiple options, leaving room for a possible airing in the latter half of the year or by year’s end. All eyes are on whether the embattled ‘Signal 2’ can still make it to viewers without further setbacks.