South Korean actor Jang Dong Gun makes his big screen comeback following infidelity scandal

Jang, a prominent figure in 1990s Korean cinema, appeared at the Busan International Film Festival on Wednesday, marking his first red carpet event since late 2019. His latest film, "A Normal Family", is set to premiere in South Korea on Oct. 9.

Adapted from Herman Koch's novel "The Dinner", the film is a suspense drama that follows four people whose lives fall apart after discovering security footage of their children's involvement in a crime. Jang plays Jae-gyu, a pediatrician and younger brother to lawyer Jae-wan (played by Sol Kyung-gu), whose life is thrown into turmoil upon learning of their children's actions.

South Korean actor Jang Dong Gun. Photo from X/Twitter

Back in 2020, Jang's "perfect gentleman" image was tarnished when leaked text messages between him and actor Joo Jin Mo surfaced, according to Ettoday. The messages, allegedly from 2013, revealed Joo inviting Jang to his home to meet women.

The two exchanged remarks about the bodies of models and beauty queens, and Jang even expressed plans to be unfaithful while his wife was expecting their second child.

Jang Dong Gun and his wife, actress Go So Young. Photo from Go's Instagram

Following the scandal, Go So Young turned off the comments on her social media, and both she and Jang chose to remain silent about the matter. However, in 2023, Go shared photos of the couple celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary, indicating that they had maintained their relationship.

Jang, along with "Squid Game" actor Lee Jung-jae, is one of only two actors to complete a grand slam of acting awards at the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards in Korea. He received recognition for his roles in "Repechage" (1997), "Nowhere to Hide" (1999), and "Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War" (2004).