[2025 Audit] Tzuyang: "I Was Afraid of Cyber Lecca Retaliation... I Couldn't Do Anything"

"Hoping for the Establishment of Systems Needed in Society"

Tzuyang (real name Park Jungwon), a well-known mukbang YouTuber, appeared at the National Assembly and emphasized the need to find solutions to the issue of "cyber lecca" (malicious online content creators).

On the 14th, Tzuyang attended the National Audit of the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee under the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee as a witness. She said, "I sincerely hope that the lawmakers and experts present here will establish systems that are truly needed in our society," expressing her position.

YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jungwon) is responding to a lawmaker's question at the 2025 National Audit held on the 14th at the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Tzuyang, who has about 12.5 million subscribers, was a victim of extortion by "Gu Jaeyeok," a YouTuber known for cyber lecca activities, who threatened her and extorted tens of millions of won. The Suwon District Court, in the appellate trial, sentenced Gu Jaeyeok to three years in prison, upholding the sentence from the first trial.

Tzuyang stated, "For years, I endured threats and demands for money from cyber lecca. At that time, I was so scared and overwhelmed that I felt I couldn't do anything." She added, "The reason I endured the threats for so long was because, as a woman, I did not want to reveal that I was a victim. However, not only did the facts of my victimization become public because of them, but also distorted and false information started to spread."

She continued, "The most difficult things were the secondary harm and the social stigma. My greatest fear was retaliation from the perpetrator, and there were times when I truly felt powerless." "With the help of people around me, I am now fighting back step by step," she said.

When asked whether she had received any help from YouTube regarding videos containing malicious content, she replied, "I used the report button to indicate that the video was maliciously spreading false information. However, even when the video was deleted quickly, it took at least a week, and since hundreds of thousands of people could view the video each day, it was not much help."

She added, "Although many people took interest in the case and helped me, it would be difficult for ordinary people or working professionals who are victims to afford the costs involved."

Tzuyang said, "I am used to receiving malicious comments, but I believe there are many people who are not. I hope people remember that when they post something online, the person on the other side also has feelings and can be hurt."

In response, Choi Minhee, the chairperson of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Thank you for coming forward so courageously. In response to your courage today, we will do our utmost to ensure that such incidents do not happen again and will work to pass relevant legislation during this regular session of the National Assembly."