Rapper Jang Yong-jun, Accused of 'Drunk Driving and Driver Swap,' Admits Charges in First Trial

Rapper Jang Yong-jun, son of Jang Je-won, a member of the United Future Party, is leaving the court after the first trial of a drunk driving accident held at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Rapper Jang Yong-jun (20, stage name 'Noel'), who was prosecuted for drunk driving and 'driver swapping,' admitted all charges at the first trial on the 9th.

At the trial held under the presiding of Judge Kwon Kyung-sun of Criminal Division 11 at the Seoul Western District Court, Jang's side made this statement.

Jang, the son of Jang Je-won, a member of the Future United Party, is accused of driving under the influence and colliding with a motorcycle on a road near Gwangheungchang Station on Subway Line 6 in Mapo-gu, Seoul, between 2 and 3 a.m. on September 7 last year. He is also accused of attempting to 'swap drivers' by contacting an acquaintance, A, immediately after the accident, or falsely reporting to the insurance company that A was driving when the accident occurred.

The prosecution applied charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury), violation of the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), instigation of harboring a criminal, and violation of the Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud, and indicted Jang without detention in January this year.

Jang's lawyer stated on the day, "We admit all the charges." A (29), who testified during police investigation that he was driving at Jang's request, was charged with harboring a criminal and violation of the Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud. B (25), who was in the same car as Jang, was charged with aiding drunk driving and other offenses, and appeared in the defendant's seat alongside Jang.

A admitted all charges, while B admitted to aiding drunk driving and other charges but denied the charge of aiding violation of the Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud, stating, "At the time of the accident, I was completely unaware that contacting the insurance company by Jang and A was insurance fraud, and I never designated A as the driver."

Jang's next trial date is scheduled for the 7th of next month.