YouTuber Gujae-yeok (real name Lee June-hee), who was sentenced to three years in prison and is incarcerated for blackmailing mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won) to extort money and valuables, announced retirement. However, because the videos and YouTube channel posted so far have not been deleted, questions are being raised about sincerity.
Gujae-yeok recently conveyed a position by posting two lengthy notes in the YouTube community through a legal representative from the Suwon Detention Center.
Through the statement, Gujae-yeok said, "Whether or not a crime is established, I apologize to those who suffered damage because of my videos," and added, "To prevent any further harm, I set all posts to private."
Gujae-yeok said, "It is not that I do not want to clear up my resentment, but since that process could create additional victims, I will offer all explanations only in court."
Gujae-yeok also expressed a separate intent to apologize to the victims. Gujae-yeok said, "I am sorry that I could not apologize in person because I have been in a detention center for over a year," and added, "If you wish, please contact me through my attorney, and I will apologize in whatever way."
However, even after announcing retirement, Gujae-yeok has not deleted the videos or the channel. Because of this, there is continued controversy over sincerity, with some saying, "Isn't it possible to resume activities at any time?"
The Tzuyang case picked up steam last year. In a video posted on YouTube in early 2023, Tzuyang claimed that A, the head of her former agency and then boyfriend, subjected her to assault and coercion over a long period.
Tzuyang went on to say, "Some YouTubers, including Gujae-yeok, demanded money, saying they had been tipped off about my private life and tax evasion allegations, and I was extorted of 55 million won on the condition that they would not make it public."
Civil and criminal suits proceeded simultaneously. In the civil trial, the court ordered Gujae-yeok to compensate Tzuyang 75 million won, and in the criminal case, both the first trial and the appeal handed down a three-year prison sentence, leaving only the Supreme Court's judgment.
Gujae-yeok began YouTube activities in 2019. Operating the channel under the concept of "helping those in need," Gujae-yeok in effect drew subscribers and generated revenue in the so-called "cyber wrecker" style that deals with celebrities' private lives and controversies.