Actor Cho Jin-woong as Detective Lee Jae-han in the drama series "Signal." [tvN]
Actor Cho Jin-woong as Detective Lee Jae-han in the drama series "Signal." [tvN]

tvN has said nothing has been confirmed about the broadcast schedule for "Signal 2," a drama series starring actor Cho Jin-woong (real name Cho Won-jun, 50), who retired after his juvenile criminal record became public.

A tvN official told multiple outlets Sunday that "nothing has been confirmed regarding the scheduling of 'Signal 2' or related matters."

Earlier that day, entertainment outlet My Daily reported that "Signal 2" had been slotted into tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama lineup and was set to premiere Dec. 7. The series is a sequel to "Signal," which aired in 2016 to wide acclaim. It had originally been scheduled for release in the first half of this year but was postponed indefinitely after the controversy surrounding Cho surfaced.

The production team had considered editing out Cho's scenes entirely or using AI to address his involvement, but ultimately decided to keep all of his footage because the volume was too large to cut, My Daily reported.

The team had also considered releasing the series without any promotion in light of the controversy, and was now weighing whether to hold a pre-recorded press showcase featuring cast members other than Cho, the report said.

tvN's denial left the broadcast schedule still uncertain.

The controversy began when entertainment outlet Dispatch reported on Dec. 5 last year that Cho had faced trial for robbery and rape as a high school student in 1994 and had been sent to a juvenile detention facility. Additional allegations emerged that Cho, after becoming an adult and while still an unknown actor, had been fined on assault charges for beating a fellow theater troupe member, and that his driver's license had been revoked for drunk driving during the filming of "Once Upon a Time in High School."

Following the uproar, Cho announced his retirement, saying "there were things I did wrong during my time as a minor" and that he would "humbly accept all criticism and, effective today, cease all activities and put a period at the end of my path as an actor."


paq@heraldcorp.com