Tzuyang Blackmail Case: Two Women Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Two women, identified as A in her 30s and B in her 20s, have been sentenced to one year in prison for their involvement in a blackmail case against popular YouTuber Tzuyang (쯔양). On July 18, during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, the prosecution requested the sentences, citing the severity of the extortion amount and the nature of the crime. However, they also noted that both women had confessed to their actions and expressed remorse, as well as reached a settlement with the victim.

The defense argued that the crime was impulsive and that the defendants did not intend to harm Tzuyang from the beginning. During their final statements, A expressed her regret, stating, "I acknowledge all the charges and want to apologize to the victim," while B stated, "I deeply regret my actions and promise not to repeat this in the future."

The court is set to deliver its final ruling on August 20.

Previously, Tzuyang revealed in July of last year that three years ago, her former agency's representative had mentioned the two women, claiming they were blackmailing her. She stated that she was coerced into paying them 216 million won (approximately $180,000) over two years to silence them.

The two women are accused of extorting this amount from Tzuyang's production team between June 2021 and November 2022. In a related development, YouTuber Karakula (카라큘라), who was previously sentenced to a suspended prison term for her involvement in the blackmail case, has announced her return to YouTube after a period of reflection. She stated that she would focus on content related to animal rescue and protection, changing her channel name to 'Karakula Animal Rescue' and halting monetization efforts.

Karakula was implicated in the scandal after it was revealed that a group of content creators, referred to as the 'Rekka Union,' had formed to blackmail Tzuyang using her past. She received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for three years, in February for her role in the incident.