"If It Were the Chun Doo-hwan Era, Mess With Me and It's the Basement"... Controversy Over Lyrics by Jang Jeewon's Son Noel

Controversy Over Noel's Diss Track "Gang Gang Gang?" Lyrics
Criticism Rises: "Disparaging May Gwangju, Evoking Military Dictatorship"

[Asia Economy, reporter Kim Seongwook] Rapper Noel (real name Jang Yongjun), the son of People Power Party lawmaker Jang Jeewon, has come under fire again after referencing the "Chun Doo-hwan era" in the lyrics of his self-composed song.

On January 13, Noel released a track titled "Gang Gang Gang?" on SoundCloud. Previously, rapper Fleeky Bang had released a diss track called "SMOKE NOEL" targeting Noel. The lyrics of that song mentioned Noel's previous drunk driving conviction, assault of a police officer, controversy over switching drivers after drunk driving, and allegations of attempting to purchase sex as a minor. In apparent response, Noel released "Gang Gang Gang?"

However, the lyrics of the song included the line, "If it were the Chun Doo-hwan era and you messed with me, you'd go straight to the basement." Netizens criticized the song, saying it disparaged the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and evoked memories of the military dictatorship. Others commented, "If it were that era, he couldn't even be a rapper," "He probably doesn't even know what a military dictatorship is," and "He likely doesn't understand that he's enjoying today's freedom because he lived through that era," expressing cold reactions.

Rapper Noel.

Criticism also emerged from within the hip-hop community. Rapper New Champ, referencing the fact that Noel is the son of lawmaker Jang Jeewon, gave a harsh assessment of the lyrics. New Champ said, "You're crazy. The May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the military era are such shameful and heartbreaking parts of our history," and added, "That line implies that because his father has privilege, power, and authority, if it were the military dictatorship, Fleeky Bang would have been tortured."

Noel recently also sparked controversy over literacy with lyrics in a new album track that read "one day, two days, three days, four days." On January 3, he posted part of the lyrics from his upcoming song "Like You" on Instagram, which included the line, "one day, two days, three days, four days, a week passes by." The word "saheul" is a native Korean term meaning the third day.

Meanwhile, Noel gained attention after appearing on Mnet's "High School Rapper." In 2019, he was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, suspended for two years, for causing a drunk driving accident and switching drivers. In 2021, he was sentenced to one year in prison for driving a Mercedes-Benz without a license, causing a collision, refusing a police request for a breathalyzer and identification, and assaulting a police officer. Noel was released in October last year and hinted at a comeback by releasing a new song just three months after his release.