SUWON — On Wednesday, prosecutors indicted four YouTubers for their roles in blackmailing and extorting a popular “mukbang” eating show star, known professionally as Tzuyang.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The Suwon District Prosecutors Office charged Lee Jun-hee and Jeon Kuk-jin, who operate under the YouTube handles Gujeyeok and Jujakgambeolsa, with physical detention for blackmail. Lee Se-wook, known as Caracula, and Choi Il-hwan, aka Crocodile, were also indicted, with the latter facing charges without detention for aiding the blackmail efforts. According to prosecutors, the accused extorted approximately 55 million won (US$40,424) from Tzuyang by threatening to expose alleged tax evasions and personal issues unless she paid them off and promoted certain businesses. Furthermore, they reportedly conspired to harm her reputation by threatening to accuse her of harassing small businesses.
Investigations into these allegations began following a complaint against the YouTubers, leading to their arrest and a deeper examination of their activities, which prosecutors say included forming a group dubbed “South Korea’s online wrecker association.” This group allegedly targeted individuals for extortion and shared information actively to coordinate their criminal activities. As the investigation progressed, attempts to tamper with evidence were also uncovered, highlighting the organized nature of their operations.