The Korean entertainment industry is reeling after the revelation of actor Cho Jin-woong’s alleged past crimes. As discussions surrounding his case intensified, the controversy unexpectedly led to the resurfacing of another actor’s shocking criminal history—one that many netizens were hearing about for the first time.
Actor Jo Hyung-ki, who debuted in 1979 in the K-Drama Chief Inspector, built a long, steady career through the 1980s and continued acting until his retirement in 2017.
But hidden beneath his decades-long career was a disturbing past.
In 1991, Jo Hyung-ki was driving under the influence when he struck and killed a woman in her 30s. Instead of reporting the accident, he attempted to hide the victim’s body, continuing to drive away from the scene. He was later found sleeping in his car near the location where he left her body.
Shockingly, even seven hours after the accident, Jo Hyung-ki’s blood alcohol concentration reportedly remained at 0.26%, far above the legal limit.
The actor was initially sentenced to three years in prison. This was later increased to five years during appeals, but another appeal reversed the ruling—reducing his punishment to three years of probation with two years in prison only if he violated the terms.
Because the internet was not widely used in 1991, the case received limited media coverage. As a result, Jo Hyung-ki was able to return to acting just two years later, continuing his career from 1993 until 2017 without major public backlash.
Photos of the old newspaper reporting his case have recently resurfaced online, reigniting outrage and disbelief among younger generations who had never heard of the incident.
As the story spread on community forums such as theqoo, many netizens expressed their disbelief at how his career continued without consequences.
- Huh… I just learned that happened in 1991. I thought it happened while he was on air and then he got kicked out. But he continued working even after it happened? How is that possible?
- Wow… unbelievable. I studied this legal precedent in class but didn’t know it involved Jo Hyung-ki.
- The shocking part is that he was appearing on broadcasts even after killing someone…
With Cho Jin-woong’s allegations trending, Jo Hyung-ki’s past has re-emerged as a stark example of how serious crimes committed before the digital age were often forgotten—or never widely known—allowing entertainers to maintain successful careers despite grave wrongdoing.
Sources: Koreaboo,Dispatch,theqoo
You must be logged in to post a comment.