In case anyone else scrolls back this far, I'll answer.
The author explained that Chiwoo and the cops knew he didn't kill anyone. The guy confessed and didn't want to live in fear of Jihyun. This I why Jihuun was released early and had his record scrubbed.
The real reason for Chiwoo's terror towards Jihyun was because the bastard raped him.
That's why he threw up when they met again after the kiss and dropped out of school after developing a phobia of people after he got beaten up.
The author stated that some things can't be forgiven and she was referring to this. It's not that he was mistaken for a murderer, it's because he was confirmed as an abuser and a rapist.
There was never going to be a redemption arc for him. This dude was asking for hugs even after he supposedly learned his lesson.
I mean he did a lot of shady shit but he didn’t murder that boy? So I’m confused. I thought that would come out in the story. And that would be apart of his redemption arc. He would make that boy go abroad, work on himself, and try when he came back? And then he would find out he didn’t murder anyone? Idk whatever.