Prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant for YouTuber Gu Je Yeok (legally named Lee Jun Hee), on charges of coercing and extorting fellow YouTuber Tzuyang (legally named Park Jung Won).
The Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office has requested arrest warrants for Lee and another YouTuber, Jeon Guk Jin, from the Suwon District Court on extortion charges. Jeon is suspected of collaborating with Lee in the extortion scheme against Park.
Lee faces additional charges of blackmail and coercion, along with the extortion charge. Both Gu Je Yeok and Jeon Guk Jin are considered "cyber-wreckers," individuals who profit from spreading rumors about well-known figures online.
In February 2023, Gu Je Yeok allegedly extorted 55 million KRW (approximately $39,765) from Tzuyang. In a video posted on July 15, Jeon Guk Jin admitted to receiving 3 million KRW ($2,174) from Gu Je Yeok on February 27, 2023. A prosecution official stated, “The prosecution requested the arrest warrants following a search and seizure operation and questioning of the suspects after the case was transferred from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on July 16.”
The Suwon District Court will hold hearings for Gu Je Yeok and Jeon Guk Jin at 10:30 AM on Friday to decide whether to issue the arrest warrants.
The case came to light on July 10 when another YouTube channel, HoverLab Inc., released a recording of a phone call between Gu Je Yeok and Jeon. In the recording, Gu Je Yeok mentioned signing a contract with Tzuyang, agreeing not to speak about her past in exchange for 55 million KRW.
Shortly after HoverLab Inc.'s revelation, Tzuyang confessed in a livestream that she had been “physically assaulted and threatened by her former boyfriend, who threatened to distribute illegally filmed videos of her if she did not comply with his demands.”
On July 15, Tzuyang filed an official complaint against Gu Je Yeok and Jeon Guk Jin with the prosecution.
A previous criminal case against Tzuyang’s ex-boyfriend, who was charged with sexual abuse, physical assault, and threats, was closed after he died by suicide during the investigation.
As the controversy escalated, Prosecutor General Lee One Seok urged prosecutors on July 15 to "proactively review means to confiscate criminal proceeds, seek heavy sentences, and detain suspects" during investigations. He emphasized the importance of protecting victims from irreparable harm caused by criminal actions involving false accusations, insults, reckless exposes, and coercion in cyberspace.
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