Tei, a singer and musical actor, clarified his recent statement regarding the death of former lawmaker Jang Je Won. He denied accusations of defending the late politician amidst ongoing sexual assault allegations.

While appearing on MBC FM4U’s ‘Good Morning FM with Tei’ on April 1st KST, Tei briefly expressed his condolences on Jang’s passing, saying “It’s unfortunate.” This comment faced criticism from certain listeners who emphasized that Jang had passed away while being investigated by the police for aggravated quasi-rape. They argued that it was not a tragedy and that the true victim's suffering should not be disregarded.

On the following day’s broadcast, April 2nd, Tei addressed the controversy by clarifying that his intent was not to label the death as unfortunate, but to express regret that things had ended in a way where the truth could not be revealed. He acknowledged the negative emotions he initially felt and attempted to convey his thoughts more neutrally.

Tei acknowledged the ongoing anger towards him and expressed understanding, stating that he did not intend to upset anyone with his comments. He offered a sincere apology to his listeners.

Former lawmaker Jang Je Won, who was also a vice president at a university in Busan, was being investigated for allegedly sexually assaulting his secretary in 2015. He was discovered dead on March 31st in an officetel in Gangdong-gu, Seoul.

The lawyer of the alleged victim, Kim Jae Ryun from Law Firm Onsesang, had planned a press conference on the morning of April 1st to disclose details of the case, but the event was canceled following the news of Jang’s death.