The "national grandson" Jeong Dong-won has again been the subject of controversy. It emerged that the minor drove a car without a license. Although an explanation followed calling it "just one mistake," public disappointment is growing as past illegal motorcycle riding allegations compound the issue. Is Jeong Dong-won a victim of extortion or an unlicensed driver?
According to the legal community on the 11th, Jeong Dong-won was recently referred to prosecutors on charges of driving a truck without a license in Hadong, Gyeongnam, in 2023 when he was 16 years old. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office is investigating Jeong Dong-won on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (driving without a license).
At the time, Jeong Dong-won drove a vehicle despite being under the legal age to obtain a license, and a video showing that was found on his cellphone. It is reported that the video was later misused by an acquaintance as a means of extortion.
When the unlicensed driving facts were reported, his agency Showplay Entertainment promptly acknowledged it and apologized. The agency said, "It is true that Jeong Dong-won practiced driving for about 10 minutes on a mountain road near his hometown Andong house," and added, "He deeply regrets and reflects on the wrongdoing of driving without a license."
Circumstances of personal life extortion also surfaced. According to Jeong Dong-won's side, last year an acquaintance identified as A took his phone without permission, and A and his associates illegally accessed private videos and demanded a large sum of money using the unlicensed driving footage as leverage. Jeong Dong-won handed money to the extortionists and then reported to the police, and the perpetrators are currently detained and on trial.
Nevertheless, public sentiment toward Jeong Dong-won is cold. In particular, he already had a record of controversy in March 2023 for riding a motorcycle onto a road designated for cars only. At that time, the agency said it was "a mistake from not recognizing the rules on the first ride" and promised to prevent recurrence, but another traffic violation later that year has increased disappointment among fans and the public.
The fandom also took a firm stance. Jeong Dong-won's fans said, "This matter cannot be justified for any reason," and emphasized, "Separate from our love for his music, the basic responsibilities to be upheld as members of society must be observed."
Jeong Dong-won stands in a complex position as both a victim of extortion and a perpetrator who committed the crime of driving without a license. Because he is a victim of extortion, there are voices of sympathy, but the illegal act of unlicensed driving, which was the root cause, is an inescapable reality.
In this regard, the agency promised, "We will thoroughly manage and educate the artist so he can grow into a more mature member of society."
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided
[OSEN]