Reports surrounding the possible November release of Signal 2 have reignited debate online, especially over whether actor Cho Jin Woong will appear in the drama without edits following his recent controversy and retirement announcement.
According to a June 30 report from MyDaily, the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit drama “Signal” is expected to premiere on November 30 as an eight-episode Monday-Tuesday series.
The report quickly gained attention because it claimed the production team had reportedly decided to air the drama without heavily editing Cho Jin Woong’s scenes. However, tvN later denied that any programming schedule had been officially confirmed.
According to AllKPop, a tvN representative told local media that “nothing has been finalized,” showing the network’s cautious stance amid growing public discussion.
The controversy surrounding Cho Jin Woong became a major topic again after reports resurfaced about allegations tied to his juvenile years.
Earlier this year, claims spread online that the actor had been involved in vehicle theft during high school and had spent time in a juvenile detention center. His agency acknowledged that mistakes had occurred during his youth but stated that the events had happened more than 30 years ago and that all legal matters had already been resolved.
Fans Split Over Cho Jin Woong’s Unedited Appearance
Following the backlash, Cho Jin Woong publicly apologized and announced he would step away from the entertainment industry. At the time, he stated, “I am sorry for disappointing everyone who believed and supported me,” before declaring the end of his acting career, TheChosun reported.
As soon as reports about “Signal 2” surfaced again, online reactions became sharply divided. Some viewers argued that the drama should not air with Cho Jin Woong appearing unedited, saying the network should reconsider the broadcast itself. Others felt differently, saying it would be unfortunate for a completed project involving many staff members and actors to remain unreleased because of one controversy.
The upcoming series reunites original cast members Lee Je Hoon, Kim Hye Soo, and Cho Jin Woong. Writer Kim Eun Hee and director Ahn Tae Jin are also returning for the sequel.
“Signal 2” has already faced several delays since it was first planned as part of tvN’s 20th anniversary lineup.