Park Jung-won, also known as Tzuyang, is a well-known mukbang YouTuber with 10.1 million subscribers. On 11st of July, she had announced on her YouTube channel that she had faced years of threats and abuse from her boyfriend, who also worked as her manager.
The discovery surprised and enraged audience over the moral bankruptcy of the so-called “cyber wreckers,” who benefit from spreading rumours or negative news about celebrities, often in a maliciously manipulated manner. The phrase is derived from tow trucks, or wreckers, and refers to the posters’ acts as privately operated tow trucks that flash their lights and use sirens despite not being state-approved emergency vehicles.
The incident came to light after recordings were leaked, revealing that several YouTubers were trying to profit on Tzuyang’s misfortune. These so-called “cyber wreckers,” YouTubers who create exposé video that appeals to the public’s sense of justice, have been accused of secretly receiving kickbacks and abusing their authority for financial benefit.
In response to the scandal, Tzuyang posted a video on her YouTube account on July 11 revealing facts to her lawyers. She revealed that her ex-boyfriend, A, had illegally recorded her and had subjected her to abuse and threats. Her lawyer, Kim Tae-yeon, stated that they had filed criminal charges against A for habitual abuse and threats, as well as claims for financial settlement and contract termination. However, the case ended when A committed suicide. She also mentioned that Tzuyang has been extorted out of about 4 billion won in YouTube earnings.
At last, several Korean YouTubers accused of blackmailing Tzuyang have apologized after YouTube suspended their monetization features.
One of the accused, Jeon Guk-jin, stated on his YouTube channel on Monday that in November 2020, he received a tip about Tzuyang’s private life and believed it genuine after doing his own investigation. Although he did not generate content at the time owing to a lack of clear evidence, the tip came back to him 2-3 years later, when he was struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeon stated that he had received 3 million won from Gujeyeok as hush money and that was the first and last time he got money with malicious intentions on YouTube. He then clarified that he was unaware that Tzuyang was in a long-term violent relationship with her then-boyfriend, who also served as the CEO of her agency.
Separately, Tzuyang’s legal team stated preparations to file a case with the prosecution against four YouTubers, including Gujeyeok, for blackmailing her with past statements.
