Rapper Noel (Jang Yong-jun, 24) has become the center of attention for a post he shared on social media following the death of his father, Jang Je-won (58), a former member of the National Assembly.
Noel posted a handwritten letter on his Instagram on 1st. The letter expressed gratitude to his fans, stating, “There have been so many moments from small venues to the concert hall I have dreamed of, but I am always grateful that you said my songs and activities provided comfort.”
Noel wrote, “I will perform in even bigger venues for you and become a better artist, so you won't feel ashamed of me,” adding, “All the friends or fans who have left me, or those who quietly support me from afar even though love has somewhat cooled, are all good memories I shared my youth with, and when I return, please love me again anytime.”
He added, “Thank you for loving me and helping me achieve my dreams. I love you. See you on May 31.”
Noel previously announced that he would hold a solo concert at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on May 31.
Coincidentally, the post was made about three hours after his father, the former Assembly member, was found dead, drawing even more attention.
Former Assembly member Jang was found dead at around 11:40 p.m. on the previous day in an officetel in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. A police official stated, “There is no evidence of foul play.”
Former Assembly member Jang, who served three terms, was accused of sexual violence (attempted forced sexual assault) against a secretary identified as A in November 2015 when he was the vice president of a university in Busan. His side has consistently denied A's claims of sexual assault, and it was reported that during the police summons on the 28th, he also completely denied the allegations.
However, on the previous day, A's side released a video presumed to have been filmed in a hotel room in Gangnam during the incident, showing Jang calling A's name and sending her to bring water, attempting to engage in inappropriate behavior, and the victim responding with a sobbing voice. It is reported that A's side was planning to hold a press conference that morning at 10 a.m. to explain the circumstances of the complaint.
Noel, son of Jang Je-won, appeared on Mnet 'High School Rapper' in 2017 but withdrew mid-season due to controversy over his relationships. In 2019, he was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence for drunk driving. Two years later, he was sentenced to 1 year in prison for driving without a license and assaulting a police officer at first instance, and although he appealed, he received the same 1-year sentence in the appeal court and was released upon completion of his term in October 2022.
After the reports of his father's sexual assault allegations, Noel updated a post saying, “Everything will return to its place. Wait for me.” He modified a post made on December 4 of last year, without adding further explanation, but it was interpreted as a remark concerning his father, Jang Je-won, who was accused of sexual assault.