On February 12, tvN unveiled its first-round drama lineup for 2026, featuring a slate of major productions including Give You the Universe starring Bae In Hyuk and Roh Jeong Eui, Siren with Park Min Young, Wi Ha Joon, and Kim Jung Hyun, How to Become a Building Owner in Korea led by Ha Jung Woo and Im Soo Jung, Secret Audit with Shin Hye Sun and Gong Myoung, Going to Work Again Tomorrow! starring Seo In Guk and Park Ji Hyun, Chilling Romance with Park Eun Bin and Yang Se Jong, Four Hands starring Song Kang, Lee Jun Young, and Jang Gyuri, Favorite Employee with Kang Hoon and Kim Hye Joon, 100 Days of Lies featuring Kim Yoo Jung and Park Jinyoung, My Guilty Human led by Im Si Wan and Seol In Ah, and Retired Agent + Management Team starring Cha Seung Won and Kim Do Hoon. Missing from the list, however, was The Second Signal (commonly referred to as “Signal 2”), which had originally been slated for release in the first half of the year.
The sequel had already completed filming last year and was reportedly preparing for a June broadcast. Expectations were particularly high as the original trio—Kim Hye Soo, Lee Je Hoon, and Jo Jin Woong—were set to reunite 10 years after the explosive success of the 2016 series. The first season of Signal received critical acclaim and strong viewership ratings for its gripping time-slip crime narrative, becoming one of tvN’s landmark thrillers.
Jo Jin Woong reprised his role as detective Lee Jae Han in both the original and the sequel. However, in December last year, reports surfaced revealing that he had served time in a juvenile detention center during his youth. According to disclosed records, he had faced criminal trial for vehicle theft and aggravated robbery and sexual assault under special law provisions, resulting in his transfer to a juvenile reformatory where he reportedly spent part of his third year of middle school.
Further allegations compounded the controversy. After debuting as a theater actor following his university graduation, Jo Jin Woong was reportedly fined in 2003 for assaulting a troupe member during a drinking gathering. As public criticism intensified, he released a personal statement announcing the suspension of all activities and declaring that he would “put an end to his life as an actor.” Despite the retirement announcement, additional industry insiders came forward with claims of past physical violence, further deepening public disappointment.
With the lead actor at the center of mounting controversy, Signal 2 has effectively been placed on indefinite hold, despite completing production. The absence of the drama from tvN’s official 2026 lineup strongly suggests internal deliberations regarding its future. As one of the most anticipated sequels in Korean drama history, the situation has left viewers divided—some expressing regret over the project’s uncertain fate, while others argue that accountability must take precedence over entertainment.
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