'Jjuyang Gonggal Threat' YouTuber Gujeokyeok Sentenced to 3 Years in First Trial... Court Imprisonment

Lawyer Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Extorting Tzuyang
Three YouTubers Including Karakula Receive Suspended Sentences and Fines

Famous YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jung-won) was extorted of tens of millions of won through threats, and YouTuber Gujaeyeok (real name Lee Joon-hee) and lawyer Choi, who were indicted on charges of extortion, were sentenced to prison in the first trial and detained in court.

YouTuber Gujeokyeok (real name Lee Junhee). Yonhap News Agency

On the 20th, Judge Park Yi-rang of the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 14 sentenced Gujaeyeok to three years in prison on charges including extortion. Judge Park also sentenced lawyer Choi, who was indicted on charges including extortion, violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and the Attorney Act for extorting 23.1 million won from Tzuyang under the pretext of a 'crisis management PR' consulting fee by exploiting Tzuyang's personal affairs, to two years in prison. They had been released on bail last month and were on trial without detention, but were detained in court after the sentencing on this day.

YouTuber Jujak Gambyeolsa (real name Jeon Guk-jin), an accomplice of Gujaeyeok, was sentenced to one year in prison with a three-year probation and 160 hours of community service. Karakula (real name Lee Se-wook), who was indicted for aiding and abetting the extortion, was sentenced to one year in prison with a three-year probation and 240 hours of community service, and Crocodile (real name Choi Il-hwan) was fined 5 million won.

Judge Park pointed out, "The defendants often discussed obtaining economic benefits by exploiting private lives in a KakaoTalk chatroom called 'Online Tow Truck Mutual Aid Association,'" adding, "It seems that their awareness of illegality and vigilance were dulled during such mutual exchanges."

Regarding Gujaeyeok in particular, the judge explained the sentencing reason, saying, "The amount extorted from the victim is not small and the damage has not been restored. After this case became public, he even tried to mislead public opinion by claiming he was helping Park Jung-won. He also showed no remorse in court."

Regarding the sentencing of accomplice Jujak Gambyeolsa, the judge stated, "The defendant admitted to the crime and did not take a leading role in the extortion, and the amount obtained was relatively small at 3 million won." Regarding Karakula, the judge explained, "The facts of aiding and abetting extortion against the victim are acknowledged, the victim does not want the defendant to be punished, and 20 million won was deposited in escrow."

Furthermore, regarding lawyer Choi, the judge said, "The defendant is a lawyer and journalist who must uphold professional ethics, and especially as a lawyer, has the mission to defend basic human rights and realize social justice. However, the defendant exploited the fact that he knew the victim's private information as a pretext to demand promotion of his company's products and gain economic benefits." However, the judge acquitted Choi of charges of aiding and abetting Gujaeyeok's extortion, coercion, and breach of official secrets.

Gujaeyeok and Jujak Gambyeolsa were arrested and indicted in August last year on charges of extorting 55 million won from Tzuyang in February 2023 by threatening, saying, "We received reports of tax evasion and personal life-related suspicions. If you pay money, we will not publicize this." They also forced Tzuyang to shoot promotional content using her fame, saying, "If you don't want this publicized, promote my acquaintance's restaurant," and in October 2021, they threatened her with statements like, "I will upload a video saying you harass small business owners by filing excessive lawsuits."

Karakula and Crocodile are accused of encouraging extortion to Gujaeyeok with the intention that "it is more profitable to directly extort money than to upload expos? videos about Tzuyang."

Lawyer Choi, acting as the legal representative of A, Tzuyang's ex-boyfriend and former agency CEO, is accused of threatening to expose past personal affairs of Tzuyang and A to extort money and later providing this information to YouTubers.

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