“Exploiting Fame to Reveal Weaknesses” Prosecutors Seek 4-Year Sentence for YouTuber Gujeyeok in ‘Tzuyang Blackmail’ Case

On February 10th, during the final trial for Gujeyeok’s extortion case, presided over by Judge Park Yi-rang at the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 14, prosecutors made their sentencing request.

Additionally, a five-year sentence was requested for lawyer Choi, who was indicted alongside Gujeyeok, while a three-year sentence was sought for YouTuber Jujakgambeolsa.

For Caracula and Crocodile, who were charged with aiding and abetting the extortion, prosecutors sought two-year and one-year prison sentences, respectively.

Prosecutors explained their reasoning, “The defendant took advantage of learning someone’s weakness by chance and meticulously planned his crime to satisfy his own greed. In an effort to increase subscribers and views, he competitively created provocative content, using fame to threaten to expose a specific individual’s private matters and extort money.”

Gujeyeok, in his final defense, denied all charges and argued that the key evidence in the case—an audio recording—was illegally obtained.

In his final statement, he claimed, “A fraudster intentionally approached me and stole my phone. They then maliciously edited the recording and submitted it to the media and prosecutors, which led to this situation. However, I would like to sincerely apologize if my actions caused the victim’s personal pain to be exposed.“

Gujeyeok was arrested and indicted for extorting 55 million KRW from Tzuyang in October 2021 by threatening to upload a video accusing her of “filing excessive lawsuits and harassing small business owners“.

Caracula and Crocodile were charged with encouraging Gujeyeok to extort money rather than merely exposing Tzuyang through a video, saying, “It’s more profitable to take money directly from her.”

Lawyer Choi, who was the legal representative of A, Tzuyang’s former agency CEO and ex-boyfriend, was also charged with blackmailing Tzuyang, aiding Gujeyeok’s extortion and coercing A.

Last July, allegations surfaced that “cyberwrecker” YouTubers had blackmailed Tzuyang using her past against her. During the investigation, it was revealed that Tzuyang had suffered exploitation, dating violence and illegal filming at the hands of her ex-boyfriend.

The court will deliver its final verdict on this case on February 20th.