Jung Dong-won Admits to Underage Unlicensed Driving... "Threatened by Acquaintance for 200 Million Won, Deeply Regretful"

Singer Jung Dong-won has admitted to having driven without a license during his minor years and stated that he is deeply regretful. Jung Dong-won's side claimed that the situation occurred during a driving practice and that he was threatened for 200 million won by an acquaintance.

On the 12th, his agency Showplay Entertainment released an official statement saying, "Jung Dong-won practiced driving for about 10 minutes on a mountain road near his hometown in Hadong in 2023," and added, "There was a passenger at the time, and this was filmed in a video."

According to the agency, a former acquaintance, referred to as Mr. A, took Jung Dong-won's mobile phone and illegally accessed the photo album to secure the video. Subsequently, Mr. A and his accomplices allegedly threatened him, demanding over 200 million won by using the unlicensed driving video as leverage.

Jung Dong-won did not comply with the threats and immediately took legal action, and it is reported that Mr. A and his accomplices are currently in custody and undergoing trial for extortion.

The agency added, "Jung Dong-won deeply regrets and reflects on his wrongdoing of practicing driving without a license, and he is cooperating with the investigation, prepared to face legal consequences." They also promised, "We will do our best to ensure that our artists grow into more mature and responsible members of society through this incident."

Meanwhile, Jung Dong-won is under investigation by the prosecution for violating the Road Traffic Act (unlicensed driving). The police recently transferred the case to the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office. According to the Road Traffic Act, one can obtain a driver's license only after turning 18 years old.

Many fans have expressed their disappointment regarding this incident and are supporting Jung Dong-won's sincere reflection and future growth.