[Comprehensive] Rapper Noel Terminates Contract with Agency... Father Jang Je-won Says "Family Turned Upside Down"

Jang Je-won Steps Down as Chief of Yoon Camp
Jang Je-won: "I Am Ashamed Before the People and Apologize to Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol"

Rapper Jang Yong-jun (21, stage name Noel), son of Assemblyman Jang. / Photo by Glitched Company

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Rapper Jang Yongjun (21, stage name Noel), who has been embroiled in controversy due to a series of deviant acts such as assaulting police officers and drunk driving, has terminated his contract with his agency. Jang’s father, Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, also expressed his troubled feelings, saying "the family has been devastated," and announced his resignation from his position as chief of staff for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign.

Jang’s agency, Glitched Company, released an official statement on the 28th, saying, "We have terminated the contract with Noel by mutual agreement." The company was established in April as Jang’s one-man label and was responsible for promotional activities such as announcing a new album release.

Earlier, on the 18th, Jang caused a collision with another vehicle while driving a Mercedes-Benz in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. When the police who arrived at the scene requested a breathalyzer test and identification, Jang refused and headbutted a police officer.

This incident occurred during Jang’s probation period. In September 2019, Jang was prosecuted for causing a drunk driving accident and attempting the so-called "driver swap," and was sentenced to two years of probation in June last year.

Some citizens criticized Jang Je-won, holding him directly responsible for his son’s repeated deviant behavior. On the 23rd, a petition titled "We demand the removal of Jang Yongjun’s father, Jang Je-won, from his position as a member of the National Assembly" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board, accumulating over 180,000 signatures as of the 29th. When a petition reaches 200,000 signatures, an official response from the Blue House is required.

Jang Je-won, People Power Party member / Photo by Yonhap News

Amid this situation, on the 28th, Jang Je-won announced his intention to resign from his position as chief of staff for former Prosecutor General Yoon’s campaign in a post on his Facebook page.

He wrote, "My wife spends sleepless nights in tears, my mother cannot even eat properly, and our family has been devastated," adding, "I have no face to show the public and feel deeply sorry to candidate Yoon Seok-yeol."

He continued, "I spent sleepless nights over a position whose fate I cannot decide without the candidate’s permission," and said, "I am sorry and regretful, but ultimately, without the candidate’s approval, I am stepping down from the chief of staff position."

Regarding why he proceeded with the resignation despite former Prosecutor General Yoon rejecting his intention to resign, he explained, "I judged that stepping down would be more helpful to the candidate," and expressed deep gratitude to candidate Yoon for his unwavering trust, saying, "I will support candidate Yoon’s presidential victory while serving quietly."

Jang Je-won apologized again, saying, "I will now deeply reflect on the sins of a father who raised his child poorly and take time for self-reflection," and added, "Though my son has committed wrongdoings, I will faithfully fulfill the role of a father that I have neglected. I bow my head once again to apologize to the public and the local residents who raised me."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.