Rapper NO:EL faces prison term for 2nd drunk driving violation

By Bahk Eun-ji

Rapper Chang Yong-jun, 21, better known as NO:EL, is likely to be sentenced to prison after being caught drunk driving while being under a suspended jail sentence for the same offense about two years ago.

Rapper NO:EL / Courtesy of Indigo Music

Seocho Police said, Wednesday, they are investigating the rapper on suspicions of driving without a license, drunk driving, refusing to undergo a sobriety test and obstructing official duty.

Chang, the son of main opposition People Power Party lawmaker Chang Je-won, was allegedly involved in a minor collision while driving a Mercedes Benz sedan in Banpo-dong, Seocho District, at around 10:30 p.m., Sept. 18.

He refused to identify himself to police officers who arrived at the scene or undergo a sobriety test. Chang also pushed and head-butted the officers for about 30 minutes. He was taken to a police station, but was sent home as he was too drunk to be questioned, police said.

This was the second time for Chang to be caught driving drunk. He was indicted for ramming into a motorcycle while driving under the influence in September 2019 and asking a friend to lie to the police by pretending to have been behind the wheel. At the time, Chang's blood alcohol level was 0.129 percent, which was enough to have his driver's license revoked.

A local court sentenced Chang in June last year to 18 months in prison suspended for two years for that offense. The latest traffic accident happened while he did not have a driver's license and was still under the terms of the suspended sentence.

Legal experts expect Chang to be arrested and receive a jail term, because it was not his first offense and he repeated the violation after his prison term had been suspended.

A day after the incident, Chang posted an apology on his Instagram, saying, “I will try to become a more mature member of society after paying for all my wrongdoings.”