SEOUL — After nearly a decade of service, Jung Woo-sung has resigned from his role as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), his management agency announced on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jung officially stepped down on July 3. While he did not provide a public explanation for his resignation, in a recent interview with a local magazine, Jung shared that his UNHCR involvement had become politically charged, leading to significant online attacks. These attacks, he explained, tried to politicize his humanitarian efforts, creating a challenging environment for both him and the UNHCR.
Jung's tenure with UNHCR began in 2014, during which he traveled to conflict zones such as Lebanon, South Sudan, and Poland to raise awareness and support for refugees. His commitment also included publishing an essay collection in 2019, reflecting on his experiences and the impact of his work. However, his advocacy faced intense scrutiny in June 2018 when he promoted acceptance of refugees during a period of heated debate in South Korea over the arrival of Yemeni asylum seekers on Jeju Island.
Reflecting on his experiences, Jung noted that his work helped to enhance the understanding of the refugee crisis within Korean society. Despite stepping down, he expressed a continued commitment to social issues and plans to focus on his acting career moving forward.