Youtuber and ex-journalist Kim Yong-ho, 47, found dead in Busan

Social Affairs

Published: 12 Oct. 2023, 18:52 Updated: 12 Oct. 2023, 19:41

Youtuber and ex-journalist Kim Yong-ho, 47, found dead in Busan

Kim Yong-ho, entertainment reporter-turned-Youtuber, was found dead Thursday at a hotel in Busan. [YONHAP]

YouTuber Kim Yong-ho, 47, was found dead at a hotel in Haeundae, Busan, according to the Busan Haeundae Police on Thursday.

According to the police, Kim was found dead in a hotel at 1 p.m. on Thursday after a report was made by a staff member.

The police are further investigating the case, including time and cause of death.

Kim, an ex-journalist who used to cover the entertainment industry and who had been running a number of YouTube channels, was visiting Busan to attend a trial on Wednesday, according to media reports.

He was on trial for sexually harassing a woman in a restaurant in the city's Haeundae District in July 2019.

The Busan District Court on Wednesday sentenced Kim to eight months in prison with a two-year probation.

He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service and 40 hours of corrective classes.

Kim was also scheduled for an interrogation after a warrant for his arrest was requested by prosecutors for extorting millions of won as hush money from multiple celebrities since August 2020 by threatening to disclose their secrets on his YouTube channel otherwise.

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191. The Seoul Foreign Resident Center offers English-language counseling. Contact 02-2229-4900 to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon@joongang.co.kr]