25.04.01.Today News : Former lawmaker Jang Je-won found dead / Another U.S. Streamer Sparks Controversy in South Korea

1. Former lawmaker Jang Je-won found dead

Former People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, who was under police investigation for sexually assaulting his secretary, was found dead.

The Gangdong Police Station in Seoul announced on the 1st that Jang was discovered at an officetel in Gangdong-gu at around 11:40 PM the previous night.

Former lawmaker Jang Je-won, who had denied allegations of sexual assault, made an extreme choice after the victim's hotel video was released.

The officetel was being used as a lodging facility through a shared accommodation platform, and it was confirmed that Jang had used the place for the first time. The operator of the accommodation told reporters, “A person who identified themselves as a secretary made the reservation, and Jang used the place for the first time on March 31.”

A note, presumed to be Jang’s suicide note, was found at the scene. It reportedly contained messages to his family but did not include specific mentions of the victim.

A Gangdong Police Station official stated, “So far, no criminal evidence has been found, and the cause of death is under investigation.”

Jang’s body was transported to a hospital in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at around 3 AM. His funeral will be held at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital in Busan.

Jang had been under police investigation after being accused of sexual assault (quasi-rape resulting in injury) by his former secretary, identified as B. The allegations date back to November 2015, when Jang was serving as vice president of a university in Busan. Jang’s side had consistently denied the accusations, claiming that the allegations were false. He was first summoned for police questioning on March 28.

On March 31, B’s legal team released additional evidence, including photos and videos of the hotel interior from the day of the alleged assault, a memo written a month later, and forensic results from the National Forensic Service confirming the presence of the perpetrator’s DNA. The videos included Jang’s voice and a mobile phone screen believed to be his. B’s legal team had submitted this evidence to the authorities in mid-January.

B’s lawyer, Kim Jae-ryeon, had scheduled a press conference for April 1 but canceled it following the news of Jang’s death.

Typically, when a suspect dies, the investigation is closed with a "no right to prosecute" ruling. A Seoul Metropolitan Police official stated, “The decision on whether to conclude the case as ‘no right to prosecute’ will be made after reviewing the handling of the death case.” The police have provided B with a smartwatch for location tracking as part of protective measures.

Jang previously served as a lawmaker for the Sasang district in Busan in the 18th, 20th, and 21st National Assembly sessions and was known as a key pro-Yoon Suk-yeol figure within the People Power Party.

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Former People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, who was under police investigation for sexual assault allegations, was found dead at an officetel in Gangdong-gu, Seoul.

One-line summary : Former People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, who was under police investigation for sexual assault allegations, was found dead at an officetel in Gangdong-gu, Seoul.

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2. Another U.S. Streamer Sparks Controversy in South Korea

As American internet personality Johnny Somali faces trial for repeated disturbances, including kissing the "Statue of Peace" in South Korea, other U.S. streamers have also been causing trouble, stirring up public outrage.

Around April 20, an American internet streamer known as “Black Dave” (real name Dave Willis) arrived in South Korea. A native of New York, he is also active as a rapper and skateboarder.

'Black Dave' and 'Ice Poseidon'

After visiting Jeju Island, Dave traveled to Seoul and toured areas such as Mapo-gu. He even visited the same “Statue of Peace” where Johnny Somali caused controversy, offering an apology and paying respects in contrast to his predecessor’s actions.

However, his reckless behavior has drawn criticism. At one point, he was seen throwing his skateboard onto a road where cars were passing. More shockingly, Dave assaulted a stranger in the middle of Seoul.

While livestreaming, he approached a parked car on a pedestrian sidewalk, walked up to a man standing near the passenger door, and suddenly punched him while hurling insults.

It is speculated that Dave was attempting to “punish” the driver for parking on the sidewalk, but his violent actions were in no way justified. The victim was wearing glasses, and the assault could have led to serious injury.

The incident was broadcast live on the Australian streaming platform "Kick."

The victim quickly got into his car to avoid further confrontation, but it remains unclear whether he reported the incident to the police.

Dave is known to be an associate of "Ice Poseidon," another American internet streamer infamous for causing disturbances in South Korea.

Around the same time, Ice Poseidon also arrived in South Korea, traveling through Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island while engaging in disruptive behavior. His streams have repeatedly shown him causing disturbances late at night, picking fights with pedestrians, and even drawing police intervention.

Adding to the controversy, Ice Poseidon and his fellow streamers mocked South Korea by making highly offensive remarks. They declared that “kimchi is disgusting” and outrageously claimed that “Korea developed because we gave them good genes through comfort women.”

They also met up with Johnny Somali, who is currently on trial, and defended him by arguing that he was only hated in Korea because he is Black.

Meanwhile, Johnny Somali, who is facing three charges, including obstruction of business, was more than an hour late to his first trial on April 7, citing an upset stomach. His next hearing is scheduled for May 9.

One-line summary : U.S. internet personalities have caused controversy in South Korea, with Johnny Somali, Black Dave, and Ice Poseidon all facing public backlash for their troubling behavior.