On May 15, actor Jang Dong Joo unexpectedly announced his retirement from the entertainment industry and wiped his Instagram account clean. He made the decision after saying he had been blackmailed for billions of won by a hacker, leaving him overwhelmed by anxiety and debt. The actor even appeared with injuries on his face that he said had been inflicted by a creditor, leading fans to fear that he had fallen into an extremely difficult situation.
Now, however, the 1994-born actor has made an unexpected return with a move few saw coming: becoming a businessman and preparing his company for a potential initial public offering (IPO). Speaking to Starnews, Jang Dong Joo said Woosun Group, which he leads, is developing a mid- to long-term growth strategy with an IPO as its ultimate goal. The move marks a dramatic transformation for Jang Dong Joo, who has gone from actor to livestream content creator and now corporate executive in just a matter of months.
Jang Dong Joo confidently explained, “Based on the experience I accumulated in the content and entertainment industries through my acting career, as well as my experience with academies and artist management companies, we are expanding and developing our businesses in greater detail.”
He added that Woosun Group is expanding its portfolio beyond entertainment into investment, arts and culture, and space-related industries. Woosun Group currently operates several subsidiaries and affiliated businesses, including Woosun Investment, Woosun Stay, Calling Art Center, Gwangdae Acting Academy, and DWJ Seongsu.
The group plans to strengthen cooperation among its various business divisions while attracting outside investment. Woosun is also reportedly considering mergers and acquisitions as a key part of its growth strategy. Potential acquisitions would focus on businesses that complement the group’s existing operations in areas such as content and entertainment, arts and culture, investment, real estate, and hospitality.
Jang Dong Joo also took the opportunity to reveal his notable family background. As it turns out, the actor is no stranger to the business world. His father is Jang Myung Chun, who has reportedly operated World General Construction for decades. Jang Dong Joo is said to have learned about corporate management and organizational operations from his father while maintaining a strong interest in investment and business expansion alongside his acting career. His career shift comes just months after he shocked fans by announcing his retirement in May.
Born in 1994, Jang Dong Joo made his debut in 2012 through the stage play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He gradually built his acting career through roles in various television dramas and projects, including School 2017, Criminal Minds, My Strange Hero, and Handsome Guys. Most recently, he appeared in Human from Today, which aired in February and marked his latest appearance on screen.
Jang Dong Joo had abruptly disappeared from the public eye in October last year, raising concerns among fans and entertainment industry insiders. In January this year, he revealed that he had become the victim of a phone hacking incident involving blackmail and threats related to his private life. At the time, the actor described the experience as “living in hell.” Jang Dong Joo said that with help from his family and acquaintances, he had managed to repay 3 billion won, but still owed 800 million won. He emphasized, however, that the remaining debt was personal and unrelated to the phone hacking incident.
After announcing his retirement in May, Jang Dong Joo reinvented himself as a livestream content creator on TikTok. His first livestream reportedly brought in around 20 million won in viewer donations. He was also said to be earning an average of approximately 1 million won per day through TikTok Live.
Despite announcing his retirement, Jang Dong Joo has left open the possibility that his acting career may not be completely over. “After I fulfill all of my responsibilities, if I get the opportunity, I would also like to return as actor Jang Dong Joo,” he said. His dramatic transformation from actor to livestream creator and business executive has now left netizens stunned and generated considerable discussion online.
Sources: k14