'10 Million YouTuber' Jjuyang Suffered Dating Violence for 4 Years... Legal Blind Spot Makes Reporting Difficult

YouTuber Jjuyang Accused of Assault and Threats Against Ex-Boyfriend
Secondary Harm to Victim Reported
Ministry of Gender Equality Gives Only General Responses
Expert Says "Safety Must Be Guaranteed to Report"

Mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won), who has 10 million subscribers, revealed that she was subjected to assault and threats for four years by her ex-boyfriend using illegal footage as leverage, bringing the issue of dating violence back into the spotlight. It was revealed that she was unable to report the perpetrator for years due to threats to harass her family and acquaintances, and had to endure the abuse.

Four Years of Threats and Assault, Leading to Secondary Harm

YouTuber Jjuyang. [Photo by YouTube screen capture]

On the 11th, Tzuyang disclosed on her YouTube channel that she had been continuously assaulted and threatened by her ex-boyfriend, Mr. A, for four years. When Park expressed her intention to break up, he threatened to distribute illegal footage, assaulted, threatened, and extorted her. She recently filed a complaint against Mr. A for violations including sexual violence laws, assault, and extortion, but the case was closed due to 'lack of prosecution rights' after Mr. A's death.

It was also reported that secondary harm was inflicted by other YouTubers. Recently, audio recordings were released showing some YouTubers attempting to extort money by exploiting Park’s victimization as a weakness. The prosecution has begun investigating these individuals.

When reporters asked the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family about their response plan during a regular briefing, a ministry official responded, "We do not comment on individual cases, but we believe that protection and punishment for dating violence victims must be strengthened," giving a somewhat general answer. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Assembly are discussing measures related to dating violence but have yet to present a comprehensive inter-agency plan.

Why Are Victims Unable to Report?

Recently, dating violence incidents have occurred one after another. Following the Gangnam Station dating murder in May, where a girlfriend who expressed her intention to break up was killed, another case in Geoje, Gyeongnam in April involved prolonged assault on an ex-girlfriend leading to her death.

Currently, the legal system addressing dating violence is insufficient. According to the manual specified in the Korean Women's Human Rights Institute’s 'Women Violence Zoom-in' (sourced from Korea Women's Hotline), dating violence refers to verbal, emotional, economic, sexual, and physical violence occurring within a dating relationship.

Existing laws related to violence, such as the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes, the Stalking Punishment Act, and the Framework Act on Women’s Violence Prevention, do not include provisions specifically addressing dating violence. Because of this, victims face difficulties not only in obtaining protective measures like restraining orders but also in investigations, counseling, and medical support.

The number of reported dating violence cases last year was 77,150, an increase of about 57% compared to 49,225 cases in 2020, four years earlier. Reports from January to March this year already reached 19,098. However, experts estimate the actual scale of victimization is larger, considering unreported cases.

Under current law, 'assault' is a semi-public offense, meaning investigations end if the victim does not wish to press charges. Especially in dating relationships, perpetrators often threaten victims with personal information such as their residence or family ties to end investigations. Moreover, if victims injure perpetrators in self-defense, the case may be treated as mutual assault. Legislative researcher Heo Min-sook from the National Assembly Legislative Research Office explained, "Under the current legal system, dating violence victims bear a significant burden," adding, "Victims can only report if they have confidence that their future safety is guaranteed."

Academics point out that not only is a separate law necessary, but detailed regulations addressing the special circumstances of 'intimate relationships' must be supported. Researcher Heo emphasized, "Separate provisions and aggravated punishment clauses should be established for control and surveillance behaviors, violence, and illegal filming within intimate relationships."

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