Musical Actor Park Jun-hwi Address Cheating Allegations: “No Inappropriate Behavior”
On June 13, musical actor Park Jun-hwi addressed cheating rumors in a handwritten letter, admitting, “It was clearly a mistake to invite a female colleague to my home without informing my fiancée in advance. That alone was a betrayal of her trust.” He explained that after a performance on June 4, he and actress Woo Jin-young casually had dinner at his place, a decision he now recognizes as careless.
Park Jun-hwi recalled, “We were watching performance videos when my fiancée arrived unexpectedly. Being alone with a female colleague late at night was enough to cause misunderstanding, and I failed to uphold her trust.”
Woo Jin-young also explained her side, saying she visited his home to clean up after wearing heavy makeup and hair wax on stage. “We were talking in the living room when his fiancée arrived. I left immediately. I understand now that my actions were careless and regret causing discomfort.”
She clarified, “In the photo, I lowered my head out of shock. Claims about underwear, being on a bed, or kneeling are false. There was no inappropriate behavior.”
Park Jun-hwi’s fiancée later posted a statement, apologizing for sharing the photo during an emotional moment. “The situation is being exaggerated online with false claims. I regret the pain this has caused to the actors, their families, and fans.”
The controversy first erupted on June 5 when a photo showing Park Jun-hwi in what appeared to be underwear, kneeling next to ensemble actress Woo Jin-young from the musical Bare: The Musical, was posted to his social media—reportedly by his fiancée.
The image, showing Park Jun-hwi in only his underwear alongside fellow actress Woo Jin-young, quickly went viral, causing a scandal in the theatre community and beyond.
The photo was reportedly uploaded on Park Jun-hwi’s own Instagram Story but was deleted within approximately 10 minutes. However, by the time it was removed, it had already circulated across various online forums and social media platforms. Fans and netizens speculated that the leak might have been exposed by Park Jun-hwi’s fiancée, sparking rumors of a real-time confrontation between the parties involved.
Adding fuel to the fire, leaked private messages between Park Jun-hwi and Woo Jin-young surfaced, revealing an intimate relationship despite Park Jun-hwi’s impending wedding. In one conversation, Woo Jin-young asked if she could take a shower while Park Jun-hwi was on a call with his fiancée. Park Jun-hwi responded cautiously, urging her to “shut the door” and promising to raise the call volume to mask the noise. This exchange intensified public speculation about possible infidelity and betrayal, shocking many fans and followers.
In response to the scandal, Showplay, the production company behind Bare: The Musical and Nijinsky, released an official statement addressing the situation:
Actors Park Jun-hwi, who played Peter, and Woo Jin-young, who played Tanya, have withdrawn from the performances due to personal reasons. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to the audience due to the actors’ withdrawal and the resulting casting changes. Those who wish to cancel or receive a refund due to the casting changes can do so without any fees through the ticketing agency.
Following this announcement, Kang Byung-hoon and Park Do-yeon were named as the official replacements for Park Jun-hwi and Woo Jin-young, respectively.
Park Jun-hwi, who debuted in 2016 with the musical Secretly, Greatly and has since performed in numerous acclaimed productions such as The Goddess Is Watching and Sonata of a Flame, now faces significant professional consequences amid the scandal. His Instagram account was deleted shortly after the controversy erupted.
