"Received 3 Million Won Due to Financial Hardship"… YouTuber Jeon Gukjin Admits to Threatening Tzyang

Tzuyang's Side Files Complaints Against So-Called 'Rekka YouTubers'

Popular mukbang (eating broadcast) YouTuber Tzuyang was threatened and extorted for cash by YouTuber Jeon Guk-jin, who has admitted to all charges.

On the 15th, Jeon Guk-jin confessed in a video posted on his YouTube channel that "I received 3 million won from Tzuyang on February 27, 2023." He revealed that he received a tip about Tzuyang's private life in November 2020, and although he initially had no plans to publicize the information, he changed his mind due to financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeon explained, "When I met with the 'Rekka Union' (who threatened Tzuyang), conversations like 'Stop taking so much' were exchanged," adding, "I thought those remarks were quite credible and believed it was acceptable to take money from bad people."

YouTuber Jeon Gukjin Photo by YouTube broadcast capture

He continued, "I was not fully aware that Tzuyang had been suffering for a long time, and as a result, I ended up taking money," bowing his head and saying, "It was wrong to take money from bad people, and I am well aware of that."

He also emphasized, "This was the first and last time I received money with impure intentions while doing YouTube. You may not believe it, but it is truly the case."

Earlier, the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon) released recorded conversations suggesting that some social issue-focused YouTubers, including Jeon Guk-jin, Gu Jae-yeok (Lee Jun-hee), and Karakula (Lee Se-wook), received tens of millions of won in exchange for covering up Tzuyang's private life disclosures.

In the released recordings, Gu Jae-yeok was described as having received 55 million won from Tzuyang's side under the pretext of "risk management" consulting, with part of the amount reportedly passed on to Jeon Guk-jin.

On the 15th, Kim Tae-yeon, Tzuyang's legal representative from Taeyeon Law Office, issued a statement announcing plans to file complaints against Gu Jae-yeok, Jeon Guk-jin, Karakula, and others on charges of threats and extortion.

In a statement posted on the YouTube channel community, Attorney Kim said, "The complaint listing Tzuyang as the victim has been assigned to the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office," adding, "If additional perpetrators involved in extortion against Tzuyang are discovered during the investigation, we will respond actively without leniency."

He pointed out that Tzuyang was thoroughly placed in a subordinate position, forced to endure the subtle threats of YouTubers who used the exposure of her private life as leverage and had no choice but to appease them.

Regarding why Tzuyang changed her mind and decided to file complaints, he explained, "After some of Tzuyang's incidents became public, indiscriminate secondary damage began to spread to Tzuyang, related parties, and third parties during the process. People who boldly spread false information about Tzuyang's victimization started to increase. After deep consideration, we decided to proceed with the complaints."