Influencer in her 20s found dead in Muju, VIP patron in his 50s arrested for murder

A female social media influencer in her 20s with approximately 300,000 followers was found dead shortly after completing a live broadcast. 

The case has drawn attention after the suspect was revealed to be a man in his 50s who had acted as a major financial supporter on her streaming platform. SBS’s 'Curious Stories Y' will report on the incident on Friday, October 3 at 8:50 p.m.

The victim’s body was discovered in a mountain area in Muju, North Jeolla Province, with signs of severe assault to the face. According to investigators, her estimated time of death was 3:27 p.m. on September 11, less than 30 minutes after she finished her live stream. CCTV footage indicated that she was pulled back into her car against her will shortly before the crime occurred.

The suspect, identified as Mr. Choi (alias), had introduced himself as an SNS agent, promising to increase her follower count. He was later revealed to be a high-level financial supporter on the platform, commonly referred to as a VIP patron. According to another broadcaster, reaching level 50 support status requires approximately 150 million KRW (about 110,000 USD) in spending. Choi was at level 46, indicating he had already spent over 100 million KRW (about 74,000 USD).

Although Choi claimed to be the CEO of an IT company, police investigations revealed that he was in serious financial distress, with his home already auctioned due to debt. On the day before the crime, he was seen kneeling before the victim in what appeared to be a desperate plea.

Authorities stated that the suspect’s excessive financial involvement and deteriorating personal circumstances led to the crime. The case continues to raise concerns about the risks faced by influencers and the complex relationships between online creators and their sponsors.