Korean comedian Joo Byung-jin (주병진) recently made a rare television appearance, discussing a low point in his life. He revealed that he was embroiled in a lengthy legal battle over sexual assault allegations, and despite ultimately being acquitted, he has been unable to fully overcome the psychological trauma from that period. "The wound in my heart will never disappear," he confessed. "It will remain until I die, continuously bringing pain."
On October 5, Joo appeared on tvN Story's program "Table Tales," where he spoke about the most challenging period of his life. He noted that while he achieved remarkable success with his underwear business, reportedly generating an annual revenue of 160 billion Korean won, his life was not without its struggles.
Recalling that difficult time, Joo described it as if his life was overshadowed by a dark cloud. He reflected, "It is a very serious sin to destroy someone else's life out of selfishness. Those whose lives are destroyed must spend a very long time in darkness."
In 2000, Joo was accused of sexual assault, leading to a prolonged legal battle that reached the Supreme Court. He was ultimately acquitted in 2003, with all related charges dismissed. However, despite being legally cleared, he admitted that the psychological trauma he endured at the time never disappeared. He stated sadly, "The wound in my heart will never disappear; it will remain until I die and continue to cause me pain."
Joo also shared a previously untold story from the darkest period of his life. One early morning, while walking along the Han River, he found himself on Hannam Bridge (한남대교) and noticed a man who appeared to be contemplating an extreme act. To avoid startling him, Joo cautiously approached and successfully intervened. He then spent a long time talking with the man before handing him over to the police.
Joo revealed that he himself was in a deep personal slump at the time. He shared his own experiences with the man, encouraging him to persevere and not give up hope. After the incident concluded successfully, he described their encounter as, "We saved each other."
Despite achieving astonishing income in his career, Joo gradually realized that money was not everything in life. He previously confessed that after his underwear business reached an annual revenue of 160 billion Korean won, an indescribable emptiness welled up inside him.
Now, looking back on these past events, Joo calmly discussed the emptiness he felt after his business success, the scars left by the lawsuit, and his encounter with the man on the Han River. Even after many years, his inner wounds have not fully healed, and his candidness has garnered significant public attention.
