NO:EL gets jail time for no license and obstructing officer

Rapper NO:EL [GLITCHED COMPANY]

Rapper Jang Yong-jun, also known by his stage name NO:EL, was sentenced to a year in prison on Friday. Jang is the son of Representative Chang Je-won of the People Power Party.

On Sept. 18 last year in Seoul, the rapper was charged for driving without a license. He then had an altercation with the police officer who requested a blood-alcohol test.

At the time, Jang was on probation for a drunk driving offense. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail with two years probation in 2019 for causing a car accident while intoxicated. Jang falsely claimed that his acquaintance was the person driving.

Prosecutors sought a three-year prison sentence in February.

The ruling judge at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, deemed Jang’s crime “heavy" and he "should inevitably be given prison time” considering that the rapper “failed to be cautious even after being sentenced to probation for drunk driving.” Jang was found guilty of driving without a license, refusing to have his blood alcohol level checked, damaging a vehicle and obstructing an officer.

Jang was found not guilty of assault because the officer was only lightly injured and did not require any particular medical treatment. The court also took into account that the rapper was remorseful and visited the officer to apologize.

NO:EL debuted in 2017 and most recently released the song “Trend setter” in August 2021.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]