French authorities set to investigate harassment of South Korean livestreamer in Toulouse
Prosecutors in Toulouse, France, have requested a police investigation into the harassment of a South Korean livestreamer who was verbally abused while broadcasting in the city last week, an incident that has drawn widespread criticism in both South Korea and France.
According to French news outlet Le Figaro on Sunday, Toulouse prosecutor David Charmatz said he has referred the case to the regional police department for investigation as a possible assault, which could involve racist and sexist motives.
The incident occurred on May 7, when Yoo Yoon-jin, a South Korean content creator known online as Jinnytty, was livestreaming a walk through downtown Toulouse on the video platform Twitch, where she has more than a million followers.
A man on an electric scooter approached her from behind, shouting, “What do you want, you dirty whore? Get out of here!” He then struck her phone and fled the scene.
The episode was streamed live and quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage among viewers in both countries.
Many French users posted messages of apology and support on X, while South Korean commenters expressed concern over safety and racism in Europe.
Emilion Esnault, deputy mayor of Toulouse, issued a statement shortly after the incident, saying, “Full support for Jinnytty, the streamer insulted and attacked during a live stream in Toulouse.”
Major South Korean broadcasters, including KBS and MBC, have covered the story extensively.
“Europe has serious problems with racism,” one commenter wrote under an MBC news article.
“Big cities in Europe are somewhat better, but you have to be cautious in rural areas,” another added.
As of Monday, Yoo had not issued a public statement about the incident.
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