YouTuber Appearing on You Quiz and Jipsabu Faces 'Video Theft' Controversy... Activity Suspended

'Thumbnail and Script Copy' Controversy Erupts
Apology Posted on YouTube as Controversy Grows

YouTuber Joo Eon-gyu, who appeared as an economic 'master' on a variety show, has announced a suspension of activities amid plagiarism controversy.

The controversy began on the 15th when ReviewEong-i, a science-specialized YouTuber with 1.38 million subscribers, uploaded a video titled "My YouTube channel is being stolen. I really can't stand it anymore."

YouTuber Joo Eon-gyu [Photo by tvN Entertainment Program 'You Quiz on the Block' screen capture]

ReviewEong-i stated, "I am going to expose a YouTuber who is stealing my videos and making money," pointing to the YouTuber 'Uju Goyang-i Kim Chun-sam (hereafter Kim Chun-sam).' In ReviewEong-i's expos? video, Kim Chun-sam's uploaded videos were shown to be copied almost exactly from ReviewEong-i's, from the titles and thumbnail images to the content.

The problem was that Kim Chun-sam admitted this during an interview with Joo Eon-gyu. Kim Chun-sam said, "If you slightly change something that people have already clicked on or make it as similar as possible in my own style, it can be done very easily."

In the interview with Joo Eon-gyu, he said, "It takes three hours to produce a script." This was possible because he was copying scripts from videos made by others. Kim Chun-sam said, "Since I know nothing about space, I watch YouTube videos made by referencing academic papers." To this, Joo Eon-gyu praised him, saying, "Wow, that's amazing. A perfect method."

Science YouTuber ReviewEongi posted a video titled "My YouTube Channel Is Being Stolen. I Really Can't Take It Anymore" on the 15th. [Photo by ReviewEongi YouTube capture]

ReviewEong-i, upon seeing this, said, "It felt like my blood was boiling." He continued, "I spend weeks researching related books and papers and then deliver the content to the public in an easy-to-understand way in my own style. But this thief cat says it takes him three hours per video. Isn't this really unacceptable?"

ReviewEong-i added, "YouTube Korea confirmed that copying another creator's titles, thumbnails, and scripts is a clear violation of copyright guidelines," and said, "What you are doing?stealing the content we worked hard to create?is a clear crime." Not stopping there, ReviewEong-i also targeted Joo Eon-gyu, criticizing, "This man travels around giving lectures on his stealing know-how, fostering a new generation of thieves and making money."

As the controversy grew, Joo Eon-gyu posted an apology on his YouTube channel that day. He said, "I apologize to ReviewEong-i and other science YouTubers," and announced that all interview videos featuring people who appeared on his channel have been set to private.

Joo Eon-gyu explained, "In his early days, Kim Chun-sam started YouTube after attending my lectures. Later, I heard that he was getting views faster than me, so I asked him to share the know-how I didn't know. That's how the problematic interview video was uploaded." He added, "This issue is not just Kim Chun-sam's problem but also my fault, so I intend to take time for self-reflection. I am sorry."

On the 13th, Joo Eon-gyu appeared on SBS's "Master in the House 2" as a master who accumulated assets worth 10 billion won in 6 years, revealing, "When my YouTube channel became a huge hit, I earned up to 800 million won per month."
[Photo by Master in the House 2 capture]

Meanwhile, Joo Eon-gyu is a YouTuber who previously worked as a PD for a cable broadcaster and has appeared on various entertainment programs including terrestrial and cable TV. In 2020, he appeared on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' revealing that he went from a salaried worker earning 1.8 million won per month to a finance YouTuber making 180 million won monthly.

Notably, last year, Joo Eon-gyu made headlines by selling his channel, which had 1.82 million subscribers, for 2 billion won. On February 13, he appeared on SBS's 'Master in the House 2' as a master who amassed assets worth 10 billion won in six years, stating, "When YouTube hit big, I earned up to 800 million won a month."