YouTuber Gujaeok Sentenced to Three Years for Extortion of Mukbang Star Tzuyang

In a significant ruling, the Suwon District Court sentenced YouTuber Gujaeok (real name Lee Jun-hee) to three years in prison for extorting millions from mukbang star Tzuyang. Alongside him, other YouTubers including Karakula and Jujakgambeolsa were found guilty of extortion and aiding in extortion. On February 20, Judge Park Il-rang presided over the sentencing of Gujaeok, attorney Choi, Jujakgambeolsa (Jeon Guk-jin), Karakula (Lee Se-wook), and Crocodile (Choi Il-hwan). Gujaeok received a three-year prison sentence, while attorney Choi was sentenced to two years. Jujakgambeolsa and Karakula were each given one year in prison, suspended for three years, along with community service hours. Crocodile was fined 5 million won. Judge Park noted that the defendants appeared to lack awareness of the illegality of their actions regarding privacy violations, emphasizing that Gujaeok showed no remorse even in court. The court found Gujaeok guilty of extorting 55 million won from Tzuyang, coercing her into filming mukbangs, and extorting 22 million won from BJ Suit, while his threats were deemed not guilty. Additionally, Jujakgambeolsa's charges of extortion, threats, and coercion, as well as the aiding charges against Crocodile and Karakula, were all confirmed as guilty. Attorney Choi was also found guilty of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the Attorney-at-Law Act. The case, known as the 'Tzuyang Incident,' emerged last August when a YouTube channel accused a group known as the 'Rekka Union' of threatening Tzuyang and demanding money based on her past. According to recorded conversations, Gujaeok received 55 million won from Tzuyang's side under the pretense of 'list management' consulting, part of which was passed to Jujakgambeolsa. Separately, Gujaeok has recently filed charges against Tzuyang's agency representatives A and B for perjury and defamation, and against Tzuyang's legal representative for inciting perjury. Gujaeok's side claims that A and B were the ones who openly disseminated Tzuyang's private information, asserting that he did not expose or widely share any of her private matters.