A Korean actor is making a new start through an exclusive contract with a live content company, only two months after his sudden retirement.
Just six months after revealing that he was burdened with debt worth billions of won, Jang Dong Ju abruptly announced his retirement in May.
Top K-Drama Actor Announces Retirement From Industry At 31
Although he repaid ₩3.00 billion KRW (about $2.11 million USD), he stated that he would temporarily suspend his acting activities until the remaining debt is cleared. He strongly denied allegations of “dining and dashing,” and also announced plans for legal action against defamation, false information, and distribution of private information. Since then, he has continued communication through TikTok live broadcasts.
Meanwhile, OSEN’s report on July 31st revealed that Jang Dong Ju has signed an exclusive contract with Universe Label, the largest YouTube live content company in South Korea, and has begun new activities.
Universe Label, regarded as a company with a dominant influence in the live content market, highly evaluated Jang Dong Ju’s potential and content competitiveness, actively expressing their intention to recruit him, leading to the exclusive contract.
After signing the contract, Jang appeared on live broadcasts operated by Universe Label, reportedly receiving around ₩20.0 million KRW (about $14,100 USD) in donations from a single live session.
Alongside this, Jang Dong Ju continues his TikTok live broadcasts. Having entered the A1 league, the most competitive tier for live streaming creators, just three weeks after starting live broadcasts, he has also secured victories in live matches against celebrity creators like Park Si Hoo. Through TikTok live, he is proving his competitiveness in a new field even after retiring from acting.
An entertainment industry insider told OSEN, “He has excellent quick-wit and hosting skills built through his acting career, along with strong communication with viewers,” adding, “Since he has portrayed a wide range of characters without genre restrictions as an actor, his talents have seamlessly translated into live broadcasting. He is a creator who excels at adding his own unique color to any genre of content.”
OSEN has also confirmed that Jang Dong Ju has not completely given up acting. He told OSEN, “Right now, my biggest goal is to do my best at any job and to repay all remaining debts without fail,” expressing, “After fulfilling all responsibilities, if given the opportunity, I would like to return as actor Jang Dong Ju.”