Actor Jang Dong-joo has spoken out about being the victim of a severe phone hacking and blackmail scheme.
On January 29, Jang shared a lengthy post on Instagram, recalling the start of the ordeal. "It was one summer day last year. A call from an unknown number. A man who knew my exact movements. I can still clearly remember his voice," he wrote.
After checking the number, he discovered it was a burner phone. Soon after, private photos from his phone gallery, screenshots of personal conversations, and his contact list were sent back to him as threats.
The hacking quickly escalated into ongoing extortion. "From that day until now, not a single day has passed that wasn't hell," Jang confessed. "I changed my number countless times, but even after three attempts, I couldn't escape."
He admitted that he eventually gave in to the hacker's demands. "His crude plundering completely overturned my life in just a few months," he said, adding that the initial damage rapidly led to further harm.
In an effort to protect his private data, Jang resorted to borrowing money by any means necessary. The situation became so dire that his family was forced to sell their home. As a result, he lost tens of billions of won and was left with overwhelming debt.
"My desperate struggle may have protected the secrets on my phone," he wrote. "But I lost the ordinary life I cherished, the people in my phone, and even my family's happiness."
Jang concluded with a public apology and plea. "I have nothing left to lose," he said. "I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt because of me. If you trust me and wait, I will get back on my feet, live properly, and repay every single won without fail."
The actor previously disappeared from public view in October last year, leaving only a brief apology on social media. At the time, his agency stated that his whereabouts had been confirmed and that he was not in immediate danger.
Jang Dong-joo signed an exclusive contract with Management Run last month and is currently appearing in the SBS-TV drama From Today, I'm Human, But….
