Tzyang Files Lawsuit Claiming Over 100 Million Won in Damages Against FMD and Fraud Detection Experts for 'Extortion Threat'

YouTuber 'Tzuyang' (real name Park Jung-won), who has 11 million subscribers, has filed a lawsuit seeking damages worth around 100 million KRW against YouTubers Gujeyeok (real name Lee Jun-hee) and Jujak Gambalsa (real name Jeon Guk-jin), who threatened and extorted money from her. Previously, they were each sentenced to prison terms and suspended sentences in criminal trials on charges including blackmail and threats.

YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jung-won) appeared as a witness at the foot-and-mouth disease trial of Gujeok (real name Lee Jun-hee) held at Suwon District Court on November 15 last year and responded to questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 24th, Judge Kim Hye-ryeong of the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 212 held the first hearing for the damages claim lawsuit filed by Tzuyang against Gujeyeok and Jujak Gambalsa. Tzuyang is claiming 100 million KRW from Gujeyeok and 50 million KRW from Jujak Gambalsa.

Earlier, in July last year, Tzuyang revealed on her YouTube channel that she had suffered dating violence for years from her ex-agency representative and boyfriend, Mr. A, and that she was blackmailed by so-called 'cyber wreckers' using this fact as leverage. Cyber wreckers refer to YouTubers who create videos on provocative issues to increase views and profit.

Those who exploited Tzuyang's private life as a weakness to demand money were recently sentenced to prison terms and suspended sentences in the first trial held at the Suwon District Court.

YouTuber Gujeokyeok (real name Lee Junhee). Yonhap News

Gujeyeok and Jujak Gambalsa were indicted in August last year on charges of threatening Tzuyang in February 2023 with the message, "We have received reports about tax evasion and private life-related suspicions. If you pay money, we will not publicize this," and extorting 55 million KRW. Gujeyeok also forced Tzuyang to film promotional content for a restaurant owned by his acquaintance, saying, "If you don't want this publicized, please promote my acquaintance's restaurant." In October 2021, he threatened to upload a video claiming "Tzuyang harasses small business owners by filing excessive lawsuits."

The court at the time stated, "Despite clearly extorting money by exploiting (Tzuyang's) weaknesses, they misled public opinion and showed no remorse even in court," sentencing Gujeyeok to three years in prison and Jujak Gambalsa to one year in prison with a three-year suspended sentence and 160 hours of community service.

Attorney Choi, who was indicted alongside them, was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of receiving 23.1 million KRW in 'crisis management PR' consulting fees using Tzuyang's past as leverage. Additionally, YouTuber Karakula (real name Lee Se-wook), who was charged with aiding Gujeyeok's extortion, received a one-year prison sentence with a three-year suspended sentence, and YouTuber Crocodile (real name Choi Il-hwan) was fined 5 million KRW.

The second hearing for the damages claim lawsuit filed by Tzuyang is scheduled for May 12.