Two women indicted for blackmailing YouTuber Tzuyang

Prosecutors have indicted two women on charges of blackmailing popular YouTuber Tzuyang, whose real name is Park Jeong-won, out of approximately 216 million won ($154,300).

Mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang answers questions from the press in front of the Seoul Gangnam Police Precinct in southern Seoul on April 16. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors have indicted two women on charges of blackmailing popular YouTuber Tzuyang, whose real name is Park Jeong-won, out of approximately 216 million won ($154,300).

The JoongAng Ilbo confirmed Friday that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office had indicted the women — identified by their surnames Song, 32, and Kim, 29 — on April 24 for joint blackmail under the Act on the Punishment of Violences. The indictment follows accusations that the two had threatened Tzuyang between June 2021 and November 2022.

In a video posted between July and August of last year, Tzuyang said her former agency CEO and ex-boyfriend, a man surnamed Lee, had informed her that the women were threatening to expose her past work at an adult entertainment venue.

“They’re threatening to expose that you worked with them at an adult entertainment establishment, so let’s pay them off to keep them quiet,” Lee allegedly told her.

Tzuyang said she had been coerced into working at the venue due to Lee’s violence and intimidation. Although the women had no prior relationship with her, they allegedly used information passed along by Lee to carry out their threats.

Tzuyang said a producer from her channel met with the women and reached an agreement for them to remain silent. In return, she paid them 200 million won, framed as an advance for a fake YouTube show deal. She also agreed to make monthly payments of 6 million won from her own funds.

Seoul Gangnam Police Precinct in southern Seoul launched an investigation last July after the producer filed a criminal complaint. Police requested arrest warrants for Kim and others, but the court denied the request, citing the lack of flight risk and evidence.

The women remained under investigation without detention and reportedly apologized to Tzuyang’s team late last year.

Despite their expression of remorse, prosecutors proceeded with the indictment, citing the severity of the offense and the large sum involved. Joint blackmail carries harsher penalties than ordinary blackmail, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Kim Tae-yeon, a lawyer representing Tzuyang, said blackmailing public figures by threatening to release damaging personal information in exchange for money constitutes a serious crime. He emphasized that appropriate punishment is necessary to deter similar offenses.

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff. BY LEE SU-MIN [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]