"Even AI Replacement Was Impossible"… Cho Jin-woong's Retirement Project 'Signal 2' Finally Confirmed for December 7 Release

"Signal 2," whose broadcast had been indefinitely postponed due to controversies surrounding lead actor Cho Jin-woong, is finally set to meet viewers on December 7.

Through an official statement on November 6, tvN announced that the new Monday-Tuesday drama "Second Signal" (hereinafter "Signal 2") has been confirmed to premiere on December 7. Considering the genre characteristics of the work and the viewing environment, the broadcast time has been set for 10:00 PM, later than usual.

Cho Jin-woong, who previously completed filming in the role of detective Lee Jae-han, announced his retirement from the entertainment industry last December after it was belatedly revealed that he had received juvenile protection measures during his youth. Consequently, the release of "Signal 2" became uncertain, but tvN decided to air the show after long deliberation.

tvN explained the background of the scheduling, stating, "The wrongful past actions of a specific cast member are certainly not something the channel can take lightly. However, this work is a collaborative creation infused with the time and effort of many staff members, production crews, and affiliates from the planning stage to filming and post-production. We thought it necessary to separate the evaluation of the individual cast member from the value of the work itself and the efforts of the creators who participated in it."

To replace Cho Jin-woong's portions, the production team reviewed various angles, including video technology modifications and AI-based character replacement tests, but ultimately concluded that there were limitations in naturally implementing his acting expressions and narrative flow, deciding to broadcast it in its original form.

The production team emphasized, "We want to make it clear that releasing this work does not mean condoning or justifying the issue," adding, "While this decision may not resolve all the concerns raised, we judged that we must also consider the efforts of those who have waited a long time for the work and the countless actors, staff, and production crew members who did their best in their respective positions to complete it. We will deliver the original story and meaning of 'Signal 2' with value, while not forgetting our responsibility as a channel."

Consisting of a total of 8 episodes, "Signal 2" attempts an unconventional broadcasting schedule to maximize immersion. On the premiere date of December 7, episodes 1 and 2 will be aired back-to-back with episode 1 partially edited and shortened, and episode 3 will air the following day on December 8, releasing 3 episodes in the first week alone. Afterward, one episode will be broadcast every Monday and Tuesday at 10:00 PM.

Attention is focused on what kind of reception "Signal 2" will receive after a long wait, as key figures of Season 1's success—including writer Kim Eun-hee, actor Kim Hye-soo, and actor Lee Je-hoon—have reunited.

(Photo courtesy of tvN)

(SBS Star | Kang Sun-ae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.