An online poster likening actor Cho Jin-woong to revered historical figures Yi Sun-shin and Ahn Jung-geun has drawn sharp criticism, emerging just days after the actor announced his retirement from the entertainment industry following acknowledgment of a juvenile criminal record.
The poster, circulating widely on online communities as of Thursday, features a black background and the slogan “We are Woong,” referencing the latter syllable of Cho’s given name. In the corners, phrases read: “Only those without robbery or rape convictions may cast a stone” and “We live together. Guarantee a second chance.”
The creator further claims, without explanation, that “Cho Jin-woong is Yi Sun-shin.” Yi, the famed Joseon-era admiral, is celebrated for leading Korea’s naval forces during the Japanese invasions of 1592–1598. The poster also displays a white palm imprint, seemingly invoking the blood oath written by independence activist Ahn Jung-geun seven months before he assassinated Hirobumi Ito at Harbin Station in 1909.
Online users reacted with anger, accusing the poster of “damaging the honor of national heroes” and “distorting history to glorify crime.”
Controversy over Cho intensified after recent media reports revealed he had been sent to a juvenile facility for offenses including robbery and rape during high school. Cho denied involvement in sexual assault but acknowledged the rest of his juvenile record.
“I accept all criticism and will halt all activities as of today,” he said Saturday while announcing his retirement.
Cho, whose legal name is Cho Won-joon, debuted in 2004 in Once Upon a Time in High School under the stage name Cho Jin-woong. Over the past two decades, he built a notable filmography, including A Dirty Carnival (2006) and Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012).
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