"'Murder by Torture' Conclusion Premature"… Death of BJ Ayoung in Cambodia Remains a Mystery

Cambodian Couple Who Abandoned BJ Ayoung's Body
Local Police: "No Trauma or Bleeding Found"

BJ Ayoung (real name Byeon Ayoung, 33), an internet broadcaster found dead in Cambodia, is believed not to have been killed through torture, contrary to some claims.

Earlier, foreign media such as AFP reported that a Chinese couple accused of killing Ayoung were charged with "murder involving torture." This led to widespread claims domestically that Ayoung died due to torture.

However, this appears to be a misunderstanding of the specific charges applied during prosecution under the Cambodian judicial system. In other words, it cannot be definitively concluded that Ayoung's death was a murder caused by torture. The exact cause of Ayoung's death has not yet been determined.

Internet broadcaster BJ Ayoung (real name Byeon Ayoung), found dead in Cambodia. [Image source=Instagram]

Additionally, claims that Ayoung's face and body showed signs of beating or other trauma when the body was found have also been reported as inaccurate. The local police who first discovered the body stated, "There were no particular signs of external injury or bleeding."

Ayoung was found dead on the 6th in a nearby sewer in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. She had gone on a trip with one acquaintance on the 2nd and met her fate. Cambodian police investigating the case arrested a Chinese couple operating a hospital locally on charges including abandoning a corpse.

The couple told police that Ayoung suddenly had a seizure and died while receiving treatment at their hospital on the 4th, after which they abandoned the body. It is known that Ayoung received an intravenous drip or serum injection at the hospital.

Currently, Ayoung's family has expressed their consent to an autopsy to determine the cause of death to Cambodian authorities, but the local investigative judge has not yet approved the autopsy.

An investigative judge refers to a judge who directly investigates serious crimes such as murder and sexual assault, or cases involving elections, public security, or bribery. Under the Cambodian judicial system, approval from the investigative judge is required for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, Ayoung was an influencer with 160,000 subscribers on AfreecaTV and 250,000 followers on Instagram. In March, she posted on Instagram, "I plan to live as a regular person for a while," and "I will live my new life as ordinary Ayoung diligently," after which she stopped her activities.

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