Jang Dong-ju announces retirement without informing his agency, claiming "breakdown of trust relationship" sparks controversy [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Jang Dong-ju's sudden announcement of retirement from the entertainment industry has sparked further controversy after it was revealed that no discussion or consultation took place with his agency.

Jang Dong-ju's agency, Management W, stated on the 17th regarding Jang's retirement declaration, "This was a matter decided unilaterally by the actor himself," and added, "The agency was not informed in advance of the content and only became aware of the situation after the announcement."

It further pointed out, "This incident is an extremely irresponsible act that betrayed the responsibility and trust owed as an actor under contract, and we clearly state that all responsibility for the resulting confusion and damage lies entirely with the actor himself."

The agency said, "We are doing our utmost to manage the situation with affected parties and partner companies harmed by the actor's unilateral decision, and we are responding with a serious stance regarding this matter," and added, "We have determined that the trust relationship between us and actor Jang Dong-ju has reached a point of practically irreparable breakdown."

The agency plans to carefully review all matters, including whether to maintain the exclusive contract with Jang Dong-ju in the future.

Jang Dong-ju suddenly declared his retirement from the entertainment industry on the 15th by posting a message on his personal SNS stating, "As of today, I intend to let go of my life as actor Jang Dong-ju."

Jang's sudden behavior began last November. At that time, he left only a brief message saying "I am sorry" and cut off contact, drawing concern from those around him.

Subsequently, he revealed that he had suffered from hacking and extortion incidents, which led to debts amounting to tens of billions of won. During this process, he changed agencies twice and signed an exclusive contract with Management W, his current agency, in February, vowing to make a comeback.

In fact, shortly after establishing a new base at Management W, Jang Dong-ju expressed his passion for acting in an exclusive interview with StarNews, saying, "When I first started learning acting, I often heard the saying, 'It's not about the one who does well surviving, but the one who endures until the end who does well. I want to become an actor who continues to act, whether I become rice that gets eaten or not.'"

Management W, fully aware of the situation Jang Dong-ju was in, reached out to him. However, Jang Dong-ju is expected to face criticism for announcing his retirement unilaterally without even the minimum discussion with his agency.

Moreover, rumors have surfaced regarding disputes over alcohol bills at entertainment establishments involving Jang Dong-ju. Amidst numerous "rumors" surrounding him, Jang Dong-ju continues to insist on his "solo path," such as conducting TikTok live broadcasts.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.