According to media outlet reports on July 21 KST, actor Jo Byung Kyu's lawsuit against his school bullying accuser, 'A', is still ongoing and is unable to move forward until 'A' sets foot in South Korea. 

Previously in 2021, Jo Byung Kyu was accused of being a school bully during his middle school days, when he went to school in New Zealand. Denying the accusations as false, Jo Byung Kyu proceeded with a defamation lawsuit against the accuser, hoping to prove his innocence. However, because the accuser is still residing in New Zealand and refused to be summoned by South Korean police for questioning, the investigation has made no progress in the last 2 years. 

In fact, one media outlet exclusively reported on this day that Jo Byung Kyu had strongly considered filing a lawsuit against his accuser in New Zealand, covering all expenses for both sides as to prove his innocence once and for all. It was reported that the cost for Jo Byung Kyu to pursue a civil lawsuit against his accuser in New Zealand, with the costs of both sides factored in, would amount to approximately 1.2 billion KRW (~ $940,000 USD). 

However, based on comments by one insider, Jo Byung Kyu's side ultimately chose not to pursue a separate lawsuit in New Zealand due to the significant time it would take for the lawsuit to be completed, and a lack of guarantee that the lawsuit would be adequate in proving his innocence in Korea. 

Meanwhile, Jo Byung Kyu will be making his return to the small-screen on July 29 with tvN's 'The Uncanny Counter 2: Counter Punch', taking on the role of the male lead So Mun.