"YouTube 'Cyber Rekka' Diving into the Issue: Who Is the Culprit in the Son Jung-min Case?"

'Cyber Wrecker' Creating Videos of Socially Controversial Incidents
Derisive Expression Comparing Tow Trucks Appearing at Incident Scenes
Views Surge for YouTubers Who Made Videos on Late Son Jung-min's Accident
Controversy Arises Over 'Overheated Competition' Spreading Baseless Rumors
Experts Warn "Assuming Internet Rumors as Facts"
"Concerns Over Disrupting Media Environment"

A YouTuber who claimed to have discovered the cause of Son Jeong-min's death accident through 'fortune-telling,' sparking controversy. / Photo by YouTube video capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Some YouTubers who spread baseless speculation and conspiracy theories by focusing on socially controversial incidents and accidents are running rampant. These individuals generate revenue by attracting views and donations through live broadcasts related to incidents, and they are mockingly nicknamed "Cyber Wreckers" because they produce videos on every incident that becomes an issue online, much like tow trucks at traffic accident scenes.

The problem is that some of these Cyber Wreckers create sensational broadcasts to maximize their profits. They spread unfounded rumors and sometimes confuse netizens with incorrect information, thereby obstructing police investigations.

On the 28th, searching "Son Jeongmin" on YouTube reveals numerous videos uploaded by various YouTubers related to the death of the late Son Jeongmin. These contents range widely from informational videos summarizing the facts revealed so far to videos containing personal speculations and opinions of individual YouTubers.

However, some videos have sparked controversy by spreading baseless speculation or fake news about this incident. One YouTuber claimed that A, a friend of Jeongmin, "hid a weapon inside his clothes," and even contradicted the police investigation results.

Some YouTubers caused controversy by spreading baseless speculation and conspiracy theories related to Jeongmin's death accident. One YouTuber recently claimed that a weapon was found in the clothes of friend A. / Photo by YouTube capture

YouTubers who post such speculative videos to attract views and donations and thereby maximize profits are called "Cyber Wreckers." This neologism sarcastically criticizes those who, like tow trucks that appear at accident scenes to tow damaged vehicles, flood the online space with videos on every trending incident or accident to draw attention.

The rise of Cyber Wreckers is not limited to the death of Son Jeongmin. Earlier this month, when the stepmother who habitually abused and caused the death of 16-month-old girl Jeongin was on trial, YouTubers flooded the platform with related videos. One YouTuber caused controversy by secretly filming and uploading a "prison letter" sent by Jeongin’s stepmother to her husband on YouTube on the 9th.

At the end of last year, when child sex offender Jo Doo-soon was released after serving his sentence, some YouTubers damaged the escort vehicle and were investigated by the police.

The reason Cyber Wreckers focus on producing sensational videos even at the risk of illegality appears to be profit.

On the 26th, YouTube analytics sites "NoxInfluencer" and "Playboard" analyzed six YouTube accounts that continuously produced issue videos related to Jeongmin’s incident. The average total estimated revenue of these channels ranged from 15.86 million to 31.11 million KRW. Additionally, the average views of these six accounts increased more than sevenfold compared to before uploading videos related to Jeongmin’s incident.

YouTube videos claiming unverified facts related to Jeongmin's accident. / Photo by YouTube screen capture

The problem is that as competition over issues intensifies, some YouTubers create excessively sensational content. Recently, a YouTuber claiming to be a shaman absurdly speculated on the cause of Jeongmin’s death through a "fortune reading."

This shaman YouTuber stated in a recently uploaded video, "According to my fortune reading, there was a quarrel between Son and A, and the two wounds found on Son’s head appear to have been caused by an object," adding, "There is definitely a woman involved, and decisive evidence such as photos of a woman on A’s missing phone will come out." This video has been viewed over 280,000 times.

Such baseless speculation can negatively affect police investigations. On the 16th, hundreds of citizens gathered near the water taxi dock at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul, where Jeongmin died, to demand a thorough investigation into the death. Some citizens clashed with police who tried to disperse the rally and broke away from the march chanting, "Let’s go to Seocho Police Station."

It is reported that this rally was spontaneously organized by citizens who encountered various suspicions related to Jeongmin’s incident on YouTube and social networking services (SNS).

Citizens participating in the march to commemorate Jeong-min's death and demand a thorough investigation are marching. / Photo by Yonhap News

Citizens expressed critical opinions about Cyber Wreckers, pointing out the possibility of spreading fake news and the high risk of causing harm to innocent people through baseless speculation.

B, a company employee in his 20s who frequently watches YouTube, said, "Nowadays, there are many channels that sensationalize incidents and accidents on YouTube, so it almost feels like watching the news," but added, "Most of them end with so-called 'brain fiction' and use sensational thumbnail phrases just to induce clicks. I worry about what would happen if people are deceived by such videos and believe incorrect information."

Another office worker, C (29), said, "They point fingers at ordinary citizens who have not even been investigated as suspects and label them as criminals, which is no different from secondary victimization," and argued, "There needs to be a way to regulate these YouTubers who attract views through incitement."

On the other hand, some defended Cyber Wreckers, saying they can have a positive social function. D (31), an office worker, said, "Most videos made by YouTubers lack information and some contain fake news, so there can be problems," but added, "Because their influence is so great, incidents that might have been buried sometimes become widely publicized. I think we cannot ignore this positive function."

An expert defined Cyber Wreckers as "a platform with faster speed than traditional media," but noted that their inaccurate reporting and low reliability could be problematic.

Cultural critic Jung Deokhyun explained, "One of the most important functions of the media is speed and accuracy of reporting, and one-person YouTubers like Cyber Wreckers have higher speed than traditional media," adding, "In an era where mobile and internet are widespread, one-person YouTubers fill the gaps that traditional media cannot keep up with."

However, he pointed out, "They do not produce content through a reporting process like traditional media but focus on making videos by treating rumors circulating on SNS and the internet as facts," warning, "This lowers reliability and may further disrupt the entire media environment that delivers news."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.