Prosecutors Arrest Lawyer on Extortion Charges Related to Tzyang... After Second Warrant Request

Famous YouTuber Tzuyang. Photo by YouTube channel 'Tzuyang'

Choi, a lawyer accused of threatening the famous YouTuber Jjuyang (real name Park Jung-won), who has over ten million subscribers, to extort money, has been arrested.

Previously, the court once dismissed the arrest warrant requested by the prosecution for Choi, citing reasons such as "there is room for dispute regarding the existence of the crime," but after the prosecution re-requested the warrant, they succeeded in securing his custody.

On the afternoon of the 19th, Judge Son Cheol, in charge of warrants at the Suwon District Court, conducted the second warrant hearing for Choi and issued an arrest warrant, stating that "the alleged charges are serious."

Choi is accused of blackmailing Jjuyang, aiding the blackmail crime against Jjuyang by YouTuber Gujeyeok (31, real name Lee Jun-hee), and coercion against A, the former CEO of Jjuyang's previous agency and her ex-boyfriend (deceased).

Earlier, Jjuyang's side claimed that Choi leaked Jjuyang's private life to Gujeyeok and threatened her to promote his business items using past revelations as leverage. She also revealed that she signed a torture contract and paid 23 million won out of fear of retaliation from Choi, who knew about her past, and released a recorded audio file containing Choi's voice.

In response, Choi stated on his social media service (SNS), "I am sorry regardless of the reason," but also claimed, "There are many parts that are not true. I have not done anything illegal."

Regarding the accusation that "the lawyer leaked secrets learned through work to cyber reckas," it is known that at the time, Jjuyang was not his client, and the information was not related to his work.

Previously, on the 30th of last month, the prosecution requested a pre-arrest warrant for Choi along with YouTuber Karakula (35, real name Lee Se-wook), but the court dismissed the warrant, citing reasons such as "there is room for dispute regarding the existence of the crime and low risk of evidence destruction."

After supplementary investigations, the prosecution added charges including violation of the Personal Information Protection Act and breach of work-related confidentiality, and re-requested an arrest warrant for Choi on the 14th.

Meanwhile, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Jung Hyun-seung) and Criminal Division 5 (Chief Prosecutor Cheon Dae-won) indicted YouTuber Gujeyeok and Jujakgambyeolsa (32, real name Jeon Guk-jin) on the 14th for charges including blackmail against Jjuyang.

They also indicted YouTuber Karakula on charges of aiding Gujeyeok's blackmail crime and threatening AfricaTV BJ A to extort 30 million won, and indicted YouTuber Crocodile (39, real name Choi Il-hwan) without detention for aiding Gujeyeok's blackmail crime alongside Karakula.