"Never Demanded Money... Unaware of Tzuyang's Situation"
Lawyer: "YouTuber Accused as Perpetrator Will Provide Future Statement"
Karacula, a YouTuber identified as one of the cyber racketeers who threatened and extorted money from 'Mukbang' YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jung-won), who has 10 million subscribers, denied the allegations, stating that she neither threatened Tzuyang nor received any money.
On the 13th, Karacula stated on YouTube, "I have never demanded or received money by exploiting anyone's weaknesses, not even a single 1-won coin," adding, "I was completely unaware of any threats or facts related to Tzuyang."
She continued, "I request Tzuyang's legal representative to confirm: Have I ever contacted Tzuyang directly or indirectly? Or demanded money?" She appealed, "I cannot be unfairly targeted based on the manipulated and edited recordings from the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute during private calls I had with Guje-yeok."
Previously, YouTuber Guje-yeok, who was also accused of threatening Tzuyang alongside Karacula, explained the day before that "at the request of Tzuyang's agency to prevent past-related expos?s, I have been stopping the production of expos? videos by providing sponsorships to other YouTubers who received similar tips."
On the 11th, Tzuyang revealed on YouTube that she was forced to work at a bar due to threats and assaults from her ex-boyfriend and former agency CEO, and that she was exploited for over 4 billion won in earnings over four years.
Tzuyang stated that she filed a criminal complaint against her ex-boyfriend, but the case was closed last year due to his death. In the video, she expressed, "I never wanted this matter to become public in any way."
Tzuyang disclosed her past following expos?s by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon). Earlier, Gaseyeon raised suspicions that YouTubers known as the so-called 'Rekka Alliance' extorted money in exchange for not revealing Tzuyang's past, releasing recorded phone conversations as evidence.
On the 12th, Tzuyang's legal representative, lawyer Kim Tae-yeon, appeared on YTN Radio's "Wise Radio Life" and explained, "(YouTube Garosero Research Institute) broadcasted without notifying or confirming facts with Tzuyang's side, so we had no opportunity to respond." He added, "There were discrepancies between their speculations and the truth, and since Tzuyang holds a somewhat public position, she decided to state the facts to prevent ongoing misunderstandings and unfounded assumptions."
Lawyer Kim also said that Tzuyang is currently so exhausted and distressed that it is difficult to contact her after the broadcast, and regarding the YouTubers accused as perpetrators, "Her personal damage is so severe that she has no specific plans on how to respond yet. We plan to organize her opinions and provide further statements in the future."
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