His recent status from the end of last year has been re-highlighted amid the broadcast activities of former television personality Jo Hyung-gi being halted due to a past drunk driving hit-and-run incident.

On Dec. 2 last year, the YouTube channel "Smile Performance Team" uploaded a video titled "(Jo Hyung-gi) Talent Association Year-End Night for Artists."

In the video, Jo Hyung-gi participated in the regular meeting of the Talent Association and grabbed the microphone. He started off by saying, "Last year, I came here as a side dish, and today I came as kimchi. I think the atmosphere is better this year than last year."

Jo Hyung-gi noted, "Opportunities to appear on television are decreasing, and it's nice to see my fellow actors not discouraged and working hard." He added, "In a children's song, there’s a line that goes, 'I really wish I could be on television.' It seems that now it has become our song, not just a children's song."

He continued, "These days, they only produce children's programs. In the past, if someone was a Deputy Minister at 40, or a prosecutor around 50, that was common. But now, you'll see someone in their early twenties playing a prosecutor or Deputy Minister. Even fathers are getting younger," he lamented, pointing out the reality that only young and child actors are being cast, stating, "Aside from King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo, all the kings are played by kids."

Meanwhile, Jo Hyung-gi added, "I sincerely hope that everyone will be healthy next year and that it will become a reality that I am on television next year."

Meanwhile, Jo Hyung-gi, who debuted as a talent in the 15th MBC public recruitment in 1982, caused the death of a woman in her 30s due to drunk driving in 1991. He was later sentenced to five years in prison for the crime of disposing of a body.

Jo Hyung-gi, who was paroled in 1993, returned to broadcasting with MBC dramas such as 'Mother's Sea' and 'Best Theater: One Apple, Two Stars.' He continued to be active in dramas such as 'Your Heaven,' 'Spy Myungwol,' 'Please Captain,' 'Queen's Flower,' variety shows 'Doctor's Competition,' 'God's Meal,' 'Golden Egg,' 'Unplanned Family,' 'My Wife Doesn't Know,' and 'Behind the Scenes.'

However, he ceased broadcasting activities after the show 'Golden Egg' in 2017. At that time, Jo Hyung-gi's past convictions were belatedly revealed on the internet, leading to increasing criticism, and eventually, he left the broadcasting industry.

[Photo] OSEN DB, captured from YouTube.

[OSEN]