"It seemed like he was part of a Korean gang" — Alleged teenage victim reveals identity of perpetrators in Jessi photo request controversy

On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Insight News reported that South Korean soloist and rapper Jessi got embroiled in a controversy where a man allegedly assaulted a teenage boy. According to the report, the teenager asked Jessi for a photo when a man who was with Jessi at the time allegedly punched him twice.

The alleged victim later claimed that the person who assaulted him was producer Koala, who has worked with Jessi for years. However, the rapper refuted claims of knowing any such person on her team. During JTBC’s Crime Thief broadcast, the alleged victim and his mother claimed that the rapper was lying as the assailant was one of her close acquaintances.

As per Insight News, the alleged victim told JTBC that the producer allegedly punched him and kept hitting his head.

"When (the Koala producer) first came to me, he punched me in the stomach twice, and then he kept hitting me with his head. Even though I avoided it, he kept hitting me with his head," the teenager claimed.

The teenager further claimed that the assailant's body gestures were "not normal," and he seemed to be an active member of the Korean gang KOS, located in the Orange County suburbs.

"He first hit me in the stomach twice and kept pushing me with his head even though I avoided him. I heard him say something about a gang when he was with friends, and his body movements didn’t seem normal. I searched him up afterward, and it seemed like he was part of a Korean gang." (as translated by Koreaboo)

---

Jessie posts an apology 10 days after the incident

Days after the incident, the Cold Blooded rapper posted an apology letter on her Instagram in Korean. According to Google Translate, she said that while she was out with close friends, a fan asked if he could take a picture with her. Although she "politely" refused the fan's request, one of the people from her group assaulted the fan.

She asserted that she had met the person for the first time that evening; hence, he was not her acquaintance.

"I sincerely apologize for the concern caused to many people by the recent reports about the assault incident involving me. Recently, while I was having a private meeting with Jiyeon, the victim on my side asked me to take a photo, but since it was late at night, I politely declined twice, and at that moment, a person nearby who I had met for the first time that day suddenly assaulted him."

Jessi continued that since the incident, she has been in touch with the alleged victim and his mother to compensate them properly and find the assailant. She emphasized refraining from spreading "one-sided claims or based on speculation."

"Since the incident, my agency and I have been in contact with the victim's mother to quickly find the perpetrator and receive an apology and compensation, and we are working to ensure that the perpetrator receives appropriate punishment. Regarding this incident, I earnestly request that you refrain from reporting only one-sided claims or based on speculation."

The teenager spoke to news outlets about the incident and refused to accept the rapper's apology, which she posted 10 days after the assault.

"I saw her apology, but she only seemed to be making excuses. It doesn’t make sense that the person who suddenly assaulted him was someone she saw the first time that day. My child says that the person Jessi claimed was not her acquaintance was with her," the teenager's mother said.

---

In other news, Jessi established her company, UNNI, and signed a management contract with DOD on September 20, 2024.