South Korean media reports that the drama "Signal 2" (시그널 2) has been removed from tvN’s summer programming, which was planned to mark the channel’s 20th anniversary. The series’ time slot will be taken by season 1 of "Pachinko".

tvN acknowledges that the project - specially prepared as a flagship title for its 20th anniversary - has run into serious trouble following the scandal surrounding Jo Jin Woong. 

The channel has confirmed that "Pachinko" will indeed air, though exact dates and the time slot are still under discussion. As for "Signal 2", tvN is using careful wording: "nothing has been decided yet". Several publications mention that the network is internally considering the possibility of airing the series in the second half of 2026 or towards the end of the year.

"Signal 2" was one of the most anticipated dramas of 2026, not only for tvN but across the entire range of Korean broadcasting platforms.

The drama suffered a major blow after lead actor Jo Jin Woong announced his retirement from the profession amid a scandal related to his criminal record as a minor.

Those who have suffered most from the sudden revelations about Jo Jin Woong’s past are his colleagues on set - Kim Hye Soo, Lee Je Hoon and the entire production crew. They are now forced to wait indefinitely for the series to air, and for many this could mean postponement of their fees for an unknown period.

Public reaction is full of disappointment. Fans waited a decade for the sequel, and the scandal surrounding Jo Jin Woong has triggered a bitter response. According to experts, the production team cannot simply reshoot the series with another actor. The financial losses would be huge, and the other lead actors no longer have free slots in their schedules.

Sources 1, 2, 3