Retired Jang Dong-ju Denies Allegations of Skipping Out on Bar Bill: "Why Is This Being Raised When the Case Was Already Closed?"

[Sportschosun Reporter Park A-ram] Actor Jang Dong-ju, who has announced his retirement, has directly addressed recent allegations that he failed to pay a bar bill, saying the claims are untrue.

According to OSEN on the 25th, Jang said the so-called "dine-and-dash" controversy surrounding him was "absolutely not an intentional refusal to pay."

Earlier this year, Jang disclosed that he was dealing with debts worth billions of won, and on the 15th of last month, he announced his retirement from acting. At the time, he explained that repeated visits from creditors to filming sets and his agency had made normal entertainment activities difficult, and that he would suspend his career until all remaining debts were settled.

However, after his retirement announcement, reports emerged about his alleged failure to pay a bar bill, and the controversy quickly spread. According to those reports, Jang visited an entertainment venue in Seocho-gu, Seoul, last month and said his companions would pay, but they never showed up. The venue reportedly filed a police report.

In an interview with OSEN, Jang explained that he had been meeting an acquaintance to discuss his debt problems. He said, "A brother who said he would help me repay my debts told me to have a drink first, so I waited. But he got drunk and eventually couldn't come," adding, "I unexpectedly ended up having to pay the bill myself."

He went on to say, "I told the venue I would pay the next day, but the Police arrived. Since my intention to pay was confirmed, they told me it would be fine to settle it within a few days, so I left."

Jang also expressed regret over the timing of the reports. He argued, "The article even said I went home after saying I would deposit the money by the next afternoon, but the report about refusing to pay came out before the promised time had even arrived."

Jang said he has since paid the full amount. He stated, "I completed the payment and also received a call from the Police saying the case had been closed," adding, "Even so, it is upsetting to be portrayed as someone who drank and left without paying."

He also pushed back against claims that his retirement announcement was meant to avoid the controversy. Jang said the decision to retire was driven by the difficulty of continuing normal activities under pressure from creditors' visits, and added, "I am still working at various jobs to repay my debts and continuing to make payments every day."

He also said, "I have no intention of going through Bankruptcy or Rehabilitation proceedings," expressing his determination to take responsibility for and resolve his debts to the end.

Meanwhile, Jang is reportedly considering legal action over the allegations, including Defamation, Spreading false information, and privacy invasion.

tokkig@sportschosun.com