Former lawmaker Jang Je-won has unexpectedly passed away, and his son, rapper Noel, has faced online hate comments due to personal allegations against his father, leading him to close his social media comment section. The criticism regarding the allegations, alongside human condolences for his father's death, has sparked a debate.

Former lawmaker Jang Je-won was found dead in an officetel in the Gangdong District of Seoul at approximately 11:40 p.m. on the 31st of last month. A note believed to be written by Jang was found on the scene, and the police are investigating the exact circumstances of death. However, it is reported that no signs of homicide have been discovered as of yet.

The deceased's son is rapper Noel (real name Jang Yong-jun). Various comments have been posted on Noel's personal social media. While condolences for his father’s death were predominant, hate comments also flooded in. This is a consequence of former lawmaker Jang Je-won being under investigation for past sexual assault allegations during his lifetime.

Coincidentally, Noel had posted a lengthy handwritten letter titled 'Ggamji' on his personal social media in the early hours of the 1st. The letter contained gratitude towards fans ahead of a performance scheduled for May 31.

In the letter, Noel stated, "I have experienced countless moments from small venues to the concert halls I dreamed of, and I am grateful that you always said my songs and activities provided comfort to you," adding, "I will perform in even bigger venues and become a more amazing artist so that I won't embarrass you."

Noel, who faced criticism due to repeated drunk driving incidents in 2019 and 2021, expressed his determination, saying, "Friends who left me, fans, or those who quietly support me from a distance because their love has somewhat cooled, all are good memories I shared my youth with, and please love me again whenever I return." He added, "Thank you for loving and helping me achieve my dreams! I love you! Let's meet on the 31st. Bring it on!"

However, around 6 a.m. on the same day, the news of former lawmaker Jang Je-won’s death was widely reported. Noel's letter was posted before he had learned of his father's death. In response, Noel's acquaintances and fans offered words of encouragement such as, "Stay strong" and "Hang in there." Conversely, there were also numerous hate comments criticizing Noel's past drunk driving incidents alongside mentioning the sexual assault allegations against former lawmaker Jang Je-won. Ultimately, Noel closed his comment section. Nevertheless, Noel's handwritten letter and screenshots of the comment situation are still being shared across various online communities and social media, causing controversy.

While alive, former lawmaker Jang Je-won was under police investigation for allegations of quasi-rape aggravated injury against his secretary A, whom he reportedly assaulted in November 2015 while serving as the vice president of a university in Busan. He has denied all related allegations, but a video presumed to have been recorded by A on the 27th of last month contains circumstances suggesting that the deceased may have molested A.

In relation to this, A was scheduled to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on the 1st to explain the details of the complaint and rebut the former lawmaker’s claims. However, due to the deceased's passing, the press conference was canceled, and the police investigation is expected to conclude with no further prosecution.

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[Photo] Source: SNS.

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