'Jang Je-won’s son' Jang Yong-jun appeals prison sentence for unlicensed driving and refusal to undergo breathalyzer test

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Rapper Jang Yongjun (22, stage name Noel), who was prosecuted for refusing a breathalyzer test and assaulting a police officer, appealed after being sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial. Jang is the son of Jang Je-won, the chief secretary to the president-elect.

According to the court on the 14th, Jang submitted an appeal to Judge Shin Hyukjae of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 4.

Earlier, on the 8th, Judge Shin sentenced Jang, who was indicted for violating the Road Traffic Act (driving without a license) and other charges, to one year in prison. He stated, "The defendant committed the crime of refusing a breathalyzer test and assaulting a police officer during the probation period despite having a criminal record including drunk driving and receiving a suspended sentence. Due to the severity of the offense, a prison sentence is inevitable."

Previously, on September 18 last year, around 10:30 p.m., Jang was caught in the act at an intersection in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after causing a minor collision while driving a Mercedes-Benz passenger car, refusing a breathalyzer test, and assaulting a police officer.

Videos released during the trial showed Jang using abusive language such as "Get out of the way, you XX," engaging in a physical struggle with responding police officers, and staggering on the road to avoid getting into the patrol car. The police handcuffed Jang, held both his arms, and put him into the vehicle. There was also footage of Jang assaulting a police officer while inside the car.

During the final prosecution hearing, the prosecutor requested a three-year prison sentence for Jang, stating, "The defendant reoffended during the probation period due to drunk driving and other offenses."

On the other hand, Jang’s defense lawyer acknowledged the facts but argued, "The obstruction of official duties occurred in an extremely brief moment of about one second, making it difficult to consider it as assault. The defendant personally apologized to the injured police officers immediately after the incident," appealing for leniency.

Jang himself made a final statement, saying, "I am very ashamed and sorry. I have deeply reflected on my mistakes while in detention. I will never repeat such actions in the future." He added, "I grew up with trauma, feeling criticism and finger-pointing toward my father physically from an early age. Even after starting my career as a singer, my identity was exposed, which naturally led me to rely on alcohol, and when I drank, I tended to become violent."

In 2019, Jang was also indicted for driving under the influence and colliding with a motorcycle in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and was sentenced in June 2020 to one year and six months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence.