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.
