Yoon Ji-ah, a woman in her 20s who nurtured dreams of becoming an actress while amassing 300,000 followers on social media, was found dead. Her body was discovered on a mountainside in Muju, North Jeolla Province, where she had no ties, and the brutality of the crime, along with the revelation of the shocking double life of the suspect, a man in his 50s surnamed Choi, who was arrested, horrified the nation.
SBS's Curious Story Y, which aired on Sept. 3, depicted the story related to Yoon Ji-ah's death.
The suspect Choi, who killed Yoon Ji-ah, was a well-known figure in the social media industry. He introduced himself as the president of an IT company and approached Yoon Ji-ah as a business partner, saying he would increase her social media followers. On video platforms he was known by the nickname "Black Cat" and was regarded as a big-spending VIP who sponsored astronomical amounts. Industry insiders said, "He reached a level that would require spending at least 100 million won."
But that was a false mask made by Choi. Choi was actually suffering from enormous debt, and even his house had been put up for compulsory auction on the day of the incident. Behind the glamorous VIP reputation was the ruin of a man struggling under economic pressure.
Just before the incident, Yoon Ji-ah was said to have been worn down by Choi's coercive orders and excessive schedule and was trying to give up the partnership. Before the crime occurred, CCTV captured a scene of Choi going to Yoon Ji-ah, kneeling and begging.
The tragedy occurred around 3:27 p.m., within about 30 minutes after Yoon Ji-ah finished her last live broadcast on Sept. 11, 2025. The bereaved family said, "The detective said that at 3:27 p.m. the camera captured what seemed like someone forcibly pulling her as she was trying to get out of the car, causing the door to close again," recounting the horrific moment. Yoon Ji-ah's cause of death was confirmed as asphyxiation due to neck compression.
After killing Yoon Ji-ah, Choi loaded a suitcase of unknown purpose and headed to the mountainside in Muju. He showed meticulousness by stopping eight times to confuse the investigation, but he was arrested as a suspect 12 hours after the body was found. Choi initially denied the charges upon arrest, but after the police found the body he ultimately confessed to the crime.
Producers of Curious Story Y speculate that Choi's despair over losing his house and his anger when plans to profit financially through Yoon Ji-ah fell apart likely led to the crime.
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