Photos that confirm the close relationship between Koala, one of the alleged perpetrators in the assault of Jessi's fan, and Jessi have surfaced and are spreading rapidly online.
The photos, which include one of Koala (real name Heo Jae Won, 35) carrying Jessi on his back and another of him kissing Jessi on the head, were revealed on October 18 and quickly went viral in online communities. These photos were confirmed to have been posted by Koala on his own Instagram.
Koala has been identified as one of the individuals who assaulted a minor fan when a member of Jessi’s entourage, a Chinese man, assaulted the fan. Koala allegedly joined in the attack on the victim.
After his identity was revealed, Koala deleted all of his posts on Instagram.
The assault on the fan occurred in the early hours of August 28 on a street in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. The male fan, who is a minor, had asked Jessi for a photo but was then assaulted by a Chinese man from Jessi's group. Koala, also part of the entourage, reportedly stopped the victim, punched him in the stomach, and headbutted him.
The victim has since filed a lawsuit against four people, including Jessi, Koala, and the Chinese man, accusing them of assault and other charges.
Koala has previously worked as a producer on several of Jessi’s hit songs, including "Nunu Nana," "Cold Blooded," and "What Type of X." Their close relationship is further evidenced by Jessi's participation as a featured artist on Koala's single 'RSVP' last year.
There have also been claims that Koala is affiliated with a gang. An anonymous tipper alleged in an interview with JTBC’s 'Crime Chief' that Koala might be a member of the Korean-American gang "Korean Outlaws" in Los Angeles. The source claimed that Koala's tattoo, "KOS," is an abbreviation for the gang's name. However, Jessi's representatives have denied any knowledge of Koala being involved with a gang.
Jessi appeared at the Gangnam Police Station on the evening of October 16 at around 10:05 PM for a six-hour investigation and returned home at approximately 4:30 AM the following morning. Before the investigation, Jessi told 'Newsis' in an interview, "I saw the perpetrator (the Chinese man) for the first time that day. I am very sorry to the victim," adding, "I hope the perpetrator is caught and punished soon."
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