tvN confirms 'Signal 2' premiere for Dec. 7, says replacing Jo Jin-woong with AI 'not feasible'

tvN has confirmed a Dec. 7 premiere date for "Signal 2," the drama series whose release had been indefinitely postponed following controversy over lead actor Jo Jin-woong's past record as a juvenile offender.

In an official statement Thursday, tvN said it had decided "after much deliberation, and with a cautious heart," to schedule "Signal 2" as a Monday-Tuesday drama beginning Dec. 7. The network added that the series would air at 10 p.m. — later than its originally planned time slot — taking into account the show's genre and viewing environment.

tvN said it was taking viewers' concerns and feedback "seriously," acknowledging that a cast member's past misconduct was "not something the channel can treat lightly." At the same time, it said, "Signal 2" is not the work of any single cast member.

The network said the series is "a collective creative work that carries the time and effort of many staff members, crew and others involved, from the planning stage through filming and post-production," and said it was necessary to distinguish between an individual performer's conduct and the value of the work itself, as well as the efforts of everyone who contributed to it.

tvN said it had explored multiple options to preserve the quality of the finished series while minimizing public concern, including video editing and AI-based character replacement tests. "However, there are limits to naturally realizing the nuances of performance and the flow of the narrative, making final application of that technology unfeasible," the network said.

tvN went on to say that releasing the series "does not mean we are condoning or justifying the problem." The network said the decision would not resolve all concerns, but that it had concluded the efforts of the many actors, staff and crew who worked to complete the series — as well as those who had long waited for it — also had to be considered. "We will deliver the story and meaning of 'Signal 2' in a way that honors its value, while not forgetting our responsibilities as a channel," it said.

"Signal 2" is the sequel to "Signal," the 2016 drama series written by Kim Eun-hee, and had been planned as a marquee title marking tvN's 20th anniversary. The release was thrown into uncertainty after Jo's past juvenile criminal record came to light, prompting an indefinite postponement of the premiere. Jo subsequently announced he was suspending his acting career.