Actor Jang Dong Ju has shocked fans with a sudden retirement announcement, and the situation has only grown more concerning after reports that even his agency was unaware of the decision.
Actor Jang Dong Ju | Star News
On May 15, 2026 (KST), Jang Dong Ju took to his personal social media account to announce that he would be stepping away from his acting career. His full statement reads:
Hello, this is Jang Dong Ju.
For a long time, I lived my life as an actor, and I received so much love and support. Every moment I laughed and cried in front of the camera was the brightest time of my life.
I sincerely thank the directors, staff members, and fellow actors who believed in and worked with someone as lacking as me. More than anything, thanks to the fans who always stayed by my side, I was able to walk this path happily until the end.
As of today, I intend to put down my life as actor Jang Dong Ju. Although I am leaving the stage, I will never forget the hearts you have sent me for the rest of my life.
Thank you sincerely for loving actor Jang Dong Ju for so long.
— Jang Dong Ju
Shortly after the post was uploaded, however, Star News reported that Jang Dong Ju’s agency, Management W, had not been informed of the decision in advance.
According to the report, the agency was attempting to contact Jang Dong Ju to confirm the reason and circumstances behind the post, but he was unreachable at the time. A representative from Management W stated, “We have not been able to speak with actor Jang Dong Ju yet. We need to confirm the reason for his retirement as well,” adding that there had been no particular issue with him until recently.
Another agency representative cautiously added that they did not know why he had uploaded the post. The situation caused even more concern because it is not the first time Jang Dong Ju has suddenly become unreachable.
All Contact Lost Between Actor Jang Dong Ju And Close Ones Following His Concerning Post
Last year, the actor alarmed fans after uploading a black screen with the short message, “I’m sorry,” before losing contact. His then-agency later confirmed that they were trying to locate him. Fortunately, his whereabouts were confirmed about four hours later, and the situation was resolved.
Earlier this year, Jang Dong Ju also personally revealed that he had been the victim of phone hacking and blackmail.
At the time, he claimed that an unknown person had completely hacked his phone and made demands of him. He said the ordeal had drastically changed his life in just a few months and had left him with an enormous amount of debt. He also shared that his family had sold their home for him and that he had borrowed money from people around him while trying to deal with the situation.
Actor Who Suddenly Disappeared Finally Reveals The Reason Why In Recent Post
Jang Dong Ju later pushed back against malicious speculation about what may have been on his phone, explaining that there were many private materials that could not be made public, including documents protected by confidentiality agreements, such as contracts.
Despite the difficult situation, Jang Dong Ju appeared to be making a fresh start in recent months. He signed an exclusive contract with Management W in February and had recently returned to activity, including appearing in the SBS K-Drama No Tail To Tell. On May 1, he had also shared news that he was filming the movie Our Next.
Jang Dong Ju in “No Tail To Tell” | SBS
This made his sudden retirement announcement just two weeks later even more unexpected.
Later on May 15, Jang Dong Ju reportedly spoke with Star News by phone. When asked about the reason behind his retirement announcement, he did not provide a clear explanation. “I will organize things officially with the company and speak later,” he said. “My parents are communicating with the company.”
When asked whether the decision was related to the hacking and blackmail incident, he repeated that he would speak after communicating with the agency. When asked whether he could reverse his retirement, he said, “I am with my family right now. I’m sorry. I will contact you again,” before ending the call.
That all said, fans are now expressing concern and confusion as they wait for additional statements from Jang Dong Ju and his agency.
Source: xportsnews and Star News (1) and (2)