Rapper’s Father, A Lawmaker, Reportedly Commits Suicide- Son Comments On His Passing
Rapper NO:EL (real name Jang Yong Joon) has drawn attention with a social media post following the passing of his father, former People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je Won.
On the 1st of April, NO:EL shared a handwritten letter on his social media addressing his father’s passing.
In the letter, he wrote, “From small concert venues to the stages I dreamed of, so much has happened, but I’m grateful that you always told me my music and activities gave you comfort.”
He continued, “I will perform on even bigger stages and become an even better artist so that you won’t be ashamed of me. To my friends who left, the fans who may have distanced themselves, and those who quietly support me from afar—even if your love has faded, you were all a beautiful part of my youth. If you ever want to return, feel free to like me again. I love you, and thank you for making my dream come true.”
He concluded the letter by saying, “I love you. Thank you for making my dream come true. See you on May 31.” NO:EL is set to hold a solo concert on May 31 at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
Coincidentally, this post was uploaded about three hours after his father’s passing, leading some to speculate whether the message was intended for his late father rather than just his fans.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Jang Je Won was found deceased in a building in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on May 31 at approximately 11:40 PM.
No signs of foul play were found, and a suicide note addressed to his family was reportedly discovered at the scene. The exact cause of death is under investigation.
Recently, Jang Je Won was under police investigation for allegations of sexual assault (quasi-rape resulting in injury) against his secretary, A, in November 2015 while serving as a vice president at a university in Busan. He had denied the accusations.
NO:EL debuted in 2017 with the double single “Appendix” and appeared on Mnet’s “High School Rapper” the same year. However, he left the show due to controversy over engaging in compensated dating.
He has been embroiled in numerous legal troubles, including a 2019 drunk driving incident that led to a suspended sentence of one year and six months. In 2021, he was sentenced to one year in prison for driving without a license and assaulting a police officer. He was released in October 2022 after serving his full sentence.
Source: (A)
