Korean-American rapper Jessi has announced her return to music with a new single scheduled for release on Friday, marking her first domestic comeback in eight months following a controversial fan assault incident.
The artist shared a mysterious teaser video on her official social media channels on Monday that featured a vintage television screen displaying a breaking news alert with "JESSI 2025.06.27."
The comeback announcement represents the artist's first official release since the controversy erupted in October 2024, when an 18-year-old fan was assaulted after approaching her for a photo in Seoul's Gangnam district.
The incident occurred on September 29, 2024, when the fan requested a picture with Jessi, who declined the request. As the fan was leaving, a man identified as part of Jessi's group struck him in the face without warning.
Closed-circuit television footage showed Jessi attempting to intervene briefly before leaving the scene with her companions. The group was later found by police drinking at a nearby bar. The incident sparked significant public criticism, with many netizens expressing outrage that Jessi did not do more to protect her fan.
Following the assault, Jessi faced police questioning on charges of intimidation and aiding a suspect. However, Seoul's Gangnam Police Station cleared her of all charges in November 2024, stating there was insufficient evidence to prove she participated in the assault or helped the perpetrator escape. The police concluded that "there is no circumstance that Jessi participated in the assault or threatened, and it cannot be seen that she helped the criminal escape."
The controversy severely impacted Jessi's career, leading to the termination of her contract with DOD Entertainment on October 18, 2024, just one month after she had signed with the agency. She issued two public apologies, stating "I regret it thousands and tens of thousands of times. I wish I could go back to that moment."
During her hiatus from domestic activities, Jessi focused on international performances. She made her first major stage return at WATERBOMB Manila 2025 in February, where she teased fans about having "multiple songs" in the works.
The assault case resulted in different outcomes for the people involved, where producer Koala, who was part of Jessi's group that night, was indicted on assault charges and referred to prosecution. The main perpetrator, identified as a Taiwanese national, fled South Korea three days after the incident, prompting police to issue an international arrest warrant and request an Interpol Red Notice.
Despite the lingering controversy, many fans have welcomed news of Jessi's return, with social media comments including messages like "The queen is back" and "We've missed you." The upcoming release will test whether the artist can successfully rebuild her career following the eight-month hiatus from domestic music activities.
