Former Lawmaker Jang Je-won Found Dead Last Night... Left a Note at the Scene

Suicide Note Found, No Suspicion of Foul Play

Former People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won was found dead.

Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, is leaving the press conference room after declaring he will not run in next year's general election at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to the Gangdong Police Station in Seoul on the 1st, former lawmaker Jang was found dead around 11:40 p.m. the previous day at an officetel in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. A suicide note was found at the scene, and there were no signs of criminal suspicion.

Jang, who served three terms as a member of the National Assembly, was accused in November 2015 of sexual violence (quasi-rape causing injury) against his secretary A while he was the vice president of a university in Busan.

Jang's side has consistently denied the sexual assault allegations made by A, and it is known that he completely denied the charges during a police summons investigation on the 28th of last month. However, earlier last month, Jang left the party, stating, "I will temporarily leave the party to avoid causing burden due to an unfortunate issue during this serious time."

In response, A's side released a video through a media outlet, presumed to have been filmed in a hotel room in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at the time of the incident. The video shows Jang calling A by name and sending him to get water, attempting to molest, and the victim responding with a sniffly voice.

Additionally, A's side planned to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on the 1st to explain the circumstances of the accusation. Kim Jae-ryeon, a lawyer from the law firm Onsesang representing A, stated in a press release that "evidence such as videos has been submitted to the police." The evidence also included details that A, who was intoxicated, collected evidence at the Sunflower Center immediately after recognizing the sexual violence and requested an analysis from the National Forensic Service. The analysis reportedly detected male genetic material on A's body and underwear.

Jang, who served as a member of the 18th, 20th, and 21st National Assembly and was considered a key figure in the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction, including serving as chief of staff during President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's period, did not run in the 22nd general election. Jang's funeral will be held in his hometown of Busan.

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