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'Trigger' actor Jang Dong-ju steps away from acting amid fallout from phone hacking case
'Trigger' actor Jang Dong-ju steps away from acting amid fallout from phone hacking case
Korean actor Jang Dong-ju has announced his retirement from the entertainment industry following a hacking and blackmail incident that reportedly caused him massive financial losses. He is 31.
The actor, who appeared in the Netflix series "Trigger," shared the news through Instagram on May 14.
“Having lived as an actor for a long time, I have received so much love and support. Every moment I laughed and cried in front of the camera was the most radiant time of my life,” he wrote.
Jang Dong-ju also expressed gratitude to the directors, staff and fellow actors he worked with throughout his career.
“Above all, thanks to the fans who have always stood by my side, I have been able to walk this path happily until now,” he said.
“With today as my last day, I intend to step down from my life as an actor. Although I am leaving the stage, I will never forget the love you have shown me. I apologize to everyone who has supported me. Thank you sincerely for loving actor Jang Dong-ju until now,” he added.
His acting credits include "No Tail to Tell," "Let Me Be Your Knight," "Loss Time Life," "School 2017," "Criminal Minds," "Honest Candidate" and "Handsome Guys."
In March, talent agency Management W announced that Jang Dong-ju had signed with the company.
Earlier this year, the actor revealed that he suffered financial losses amounting to billions of won after his phone was hacked and he became a victim of blackmail.
“That man’s ignorant plundering completely changed my life in just a few months,” he said in a previous statement. “Before I knew it, the damage I suffered was creating even more damage. I borrowed money by any means necessary. My family even sold our house for me.”
According to Jang Dong-ju, the debt he incurred in trying to resolve the situation only led to even greater financial problems.
“In this way, I squandered billions, leaving my family in agony and me buried under a mountain of debt. If you trust me and wait for me, I will work hard to repay every single penny,” he said.
On social media, the actor denied rumors that his phone contained sexting videos, but admitted there was sensitive material on the device that should not be made public, according to Korean media reports.
“For example, it could be copies of confidentiality agreements that I must abide by,” he reportedly said in response to a comment online.