Jessi Apologizes Amid Fan Assault and Gang Allegations

Singer Jessi (Korean name Ho Hyun-joo) has apologized after her entourage was involved in an assault on a fan, sparking suspicions that one of her producers might be affiliated with a Korean gang.

On the 14th, the victim of the assault appeared on JTBC's 'CRIME CHIEF', sharing his thoughts on Jessi's apology.

The show's host explained, "The victim, a minor at the time, approached Jessi on the streets of Gangnam, asking for a photo. After being politely rejected, he was about to leave when a group of men accompanying Jessi suddenly assaulted him—one punched him in the stomach, and another pushed his head down." CCTV footage of the incident was aired once again.



In the CCTV footage, the 18-year-old victim can be seen approaching Jessi, who was seated with her group, and asking for a photo. After being rejected, one man moved toward the victim in a threatening manner. Jessi attempted to intervene, grabbing the man's arm to stop him. However, another man assaulted the victim before Jessi could react, and she is seen stepping back during the altercation.

'CRIME CHIEF'revealed that one of the men involved, who had a shaved head, is a producer who works with Jessi, known by the stage name 'Koala.' He is said to have contributed to the production of Jessi's tracks such as 'What Type of X', 'Cold Blooded', and 'Nunu Nana.'The show also interviewed the victim and his mother. The victim's mother expressed frustration, stating, "I read Jessi's apology, but it felt more like an excuse. It doesn’t make sense to claim the attacker 'suddenly appeared' when my son saw him right next to Jessi. Jessi claims she tried to intervene, but how could she not stop the man if he wasn’t a stranger?"



The victim also voiced doubts about the sincerity of Jessi's apology, particularly the reference to 'moral responsibility.' He further elaborated on the assault: "At first, he (Koala) punched me twice in the stomach and kept shoving my head down, as if to humiliate me. His actions seemed like those of a gang member."

Quoting another informant, 'CRIME CHIEF' noted the presence of tattoos on Koala's arms: a 'K' on his right arm and 'OS' on his left, which reportedly stands for 'Korean Outlaws,' a Korean gang based in Los Angeles.



In response to these claims, Jessi firmly denied any gang affiliation. "Koala has worked with me on several music projects, but I have no connection to any gang, nor was I aware of Koala being involved with one," she stated.

The controversy first came to light on the 11th when 'CRIME CHIEF' reported that a fan requesting a photo with Jessi had been assaulted by her entourage.

The incident occurred on the 29th of last month when the fan, identified as 18-year-old 'A,' encountered Jessi in a Gangnam alley. A asked for a photo, but a man from Jessi’s group swore at him in English. Jessi restrained the man and apologized politely, and A also apologized and backed off. However, another man allegedly struck A in the face.

A expressed disappointment in Jessi's actions, stating, "She didn’t take any real action to stop them. I don't know if she ran away to avoid the situation, but I’m very disappointed in her. Even in the video, she just stood there and watched. She was my favorite celebrity, but I’m really let down."

Following the incident, A’s mother visited Jessi’s agency, which explained that the perpetrator was a Chinese acquaintance of a producer close to Jessi. The police have been unable to identify the assailant as his identity remains unknown.

The Gangnam Police Station has summoned the producer to assist in identifying the perpetrator. He is scheduled to appear for questioning next week.

On the 12th, Jessi issued a formal apology, stating, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern due to the recent assault case involving me." She explained, "I politely declined the fan's request twice, and then, suddenly, a stranger assaulted the fan. I was so shocked by the situation that I failed to properly attend to the fan."

An official from the Gangnam Police Station confirmed on the 14th, "We are considering summoning all individuals present at the scene, including Jessi, for questioning. We will conduct a thorough and strict investigation into this assault case."