Korean singer Car, the Garden, whose real name is Cha Jungwon, has faced fierce backlash after being spotted with Bassagong — the infamous Korean rapper who was recently released from prison after being convicted of a sex crime.
| @carthegarden/Instagram
On May 3, Cha shared a photo of himself with Bassagong on his Instagram account, sparking outrage among netizens. In the photo, Bassagong can be seen smiling and smoking, seemingly engaged in conversation. Car, the Garden and Bassagong have been known to be close friends, having appeared together on various entertainment shows and even collaborated on music projects in the past.
| @carthegarden/Instagram
However, that did nothing to quell the public’s upset. Netizens were quick to react to the photo, with many expressing disbelief and disappointment. Some questioned Cha’s intentions behind posting the picture, while others criticized him for seemingly condoning Bassagong’s actions.
| @carthegarden/Instagram
The photo was also Bassagong’s first public appearance since his release from prison last month, where he was greeted with mixed reactions from the public. The rapper was convicted in 2022 for filming his former girlfriend without consent while she slept and sharing the footage with multiple acquaintances.
Bassagong | Donga
In the initial trial, Bassagong was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to undergo a sexual violence treatment program, along with a three-year ban on employment at facilities for children, adolescents, and individuals with disabilities. Despite appealing the verdict, the second trial upheld the original decision, emphasizing the severity of the victim’s suffering.
Earlier this year, Bassagong made headlines for releasing an album while imprisoned, which also caused an uproar among the Korean public.
