Gang Indicted for Kidnapping and Attempted Murder of YouTuber Over Vehicle Deposit Dispute

Two men who attempted to kidnap and murder a famous YouTuber in an underground parking lot of an apartment in Incheon appeared at the pretrial detention hearing at the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on October 29. Photo by Yonhap News.

The group that attempted to kidnap and murder a famous YouTuber has been brought to trial.

The Criminal Division 2 of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Park Jongseon, announced on November 21 that it had indicted a used car dealer, Mr. A (age 25), and his acquaintance, Mr. B (age 32), on charges of attempted robbery-murder and joint unlawful confinement under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts.

The police initially charged Mr. A’s group with attempted murder, but the prosecution determined that they had a premeditated intent to kill the victim during the robbery and changed the charge to attempted robbery-murder, which carries a heavier sentence.

Additionally, during the investigation, including digital forensics, the prosecution detained and is investigating another accomplice who allegedly prepared for the crime together with Mr. A’s group, on the same charges.

Mr. A and others are accused of kidnapping Mr. C, a male YouTuber in his 30s, in the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu District, Incheon, at around 10:40 p.m. on October 26, and attempting to murder him by beating him more than ten times with a blunt weapon.

At the time, they lured Mr. C to the parking lot of his apartment, forced him into a vehicle, and drove to the parking lot of a cemetery in Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province, about 200 kilometers away.

The police, after receiving a report from Mr. C, tracked the vehicle and arrested Mr. A’s group in South Chungcheong Province as they were caught in the act, four hours later.

Mr. C, a well-known gaming YouTuber with about one million subscribers, suffered severe facial injuries from the assault but is reportedly not in life-threatening condition.

The investigation revealed that Mr. A committed the crime after Mr. C, who had signed a contract to purchase a vehicle, demanded the return of his deposit. Mr. A planned to steal Mr. C’s money and kill him, even though he had not yet delivered the vehicle to Mr. C.

A prosecution official stated, “During the investigation after receiving the case from the police, we apprehended and are investigating an additional accomplice. Although this accomplice was not present when Mr. A’s group was arrested, it has been determined that they prepared for the crime together.”