Pre-Debut BTS Member’s Life and Death Marked by Chart Success and Multiple Arrests
Iron, former trainee alongside BTS’s RM, faced multiple legal troubles before his tragic death in 2021.
The controversy began with Iron, originally known as Jung Hun Cheol, leaving BigHit Entertainment’s pre-debut group B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys) in January 2011. Despite leaving, he stayed active in the underground rap scene with crews like DaeNamHyup alongside RM, Topp Dogg’s Kidoh, and Supreme Boi.
Iron gained fame after finishing second on Show Me The Money 3. His tracks, including “Malice” and a collaboration with former AOA’s Shin Jimin titled “Puss,” ranked high on Gaon’s music charts. He also featured on SHINee Jonghyun’s “Crazy,” which performed well.
In September 2016, Iron released his first album Rock Bottom. That same year, his legal issues began when he was convicted of smoking marijuana and received a suspended sentence.
Soon after, Iron was accused of assault by an ex-girlfriend. She claimed he hit her face during sex causing fractures, strangled her when she tried to end their relationship, and threatened to blame her after injuring himself with a kitchen knife. Iron was detained by police during the investigation.
As the situation unfolded, Iron publicly exposed his accuser’s identity and called her a masochist. In 2018, he was sentenced to eight months suspended for two years and 80 hours of community service.
In 2020, Iron was arrested again for allegedly assaulting his 18-year-old male roommate by hitting him multiple times with a baseball bat. No sentence was given for this case.
Tragically, on January 21, 2021, Iron was found bleeding in a flowerbed outside his apartment. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival. His funeral took place on January 28, 2021, marking the end of a troubled but talented musician’s career.
