Actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung’s entertainment agency, Artist Company, has released New Year greetings from its affiliated actors to mark the beginning of 2025. On January 1st, Artist Company posted on its official SNS, “After a tumultuous 2024, the Year of the Blue Sheep has dawned. We hope for a year filled with happiness and good health.” The company tagged actors including Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung, Yum Jung-ah, Park Hae-jin, Kim Jong-soo, Park So-dam, Lim Ji-yeon, Shin Jung-geun, Park Hoon, Kim Joon-han, Won Jin-ah, Pyo Ji-hoon, Kim Hye-yoon, Cho Yi-hyun, Cha Rae-hyung, Yoo Jung-hoo, Choi Kyung-hoon, and shared handwritten New Year messages from them.
Lim Ji-yeon, who defended Jung Woo-sung, said, “A year has ended and a new one has begun. Looking back, time really flew by, and I hope you achieve everything you wish for in the new year. Happy New Year!” Jung Woo-sung made his first official appearance after an extramarital child controversy at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards held at KBS Hall on November 29 last year. Lim Ji-yeon, who was seated in the audience, applauded and cheered for him, sparking a second controversy. Some netizens criticized Jung Woo-sung for addressing personal controversies at the award ceremony and questioned whether fulfilling his responsibility as a father was praiseworthy, while others criticized Lim Ji-yeon’s actions.
Bae Sung-woo, who returned after taking time off due to a drunk driving incident, also sent his New Year greetings. He said, “Hello, my name is Bae Sung-woo. Happy New Year to you all.” In November 2020, Bae Sung-woo was caught driving under the influence after having drinks with acquaintances in the Sinsa-dong area of Gangnam-gu, Seoul. According to the police, his blood alcohol level was over 0.08%, sufficient for license revocation. Following this, Bae Sung-woo stepped down from his lead role in SBS’s “Delayed Justice” in December of the same year, and his absence was filled by Jung Woo-sung from Artist Company. In February 2021, Seoul Central District Court sentenced Bae Sung-woo to a fine of 7 million won for drunk driving charges.