Arrest warrant approved for YouTuber Caracula in Tzuyang extortion case

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Arrest warrant approved for YouTuber Caracula in Tzuyang extortion case

Published: 02 Aug. 2024, 22:57 Updated: 04 Aug. 2024, 19:08

LEE SOO-JUNG
lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr

YouTuber Tzuyang, whose legal name is Park Jung-won [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Suwon District Court on Friday night issued an arrest warrant for YouTuber Caracula, who is allegedly involved in an extortion and coercion scheme against mukbang (eating show) YouTube star Tzuyang.

The court, however, denied a warrant request for an attorney surnamed Choi, also facing the same allegations.

The court cited there is a flight risk and concern of destruction of evidence for Caracula. The court added that it is difficult to recognize the necessity of detaining Choi as he is less likely to tamper with evidence, also noting that the allegations against him should be further clarified.

The decision came three days after the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office filed the requests with the court on Tuesday, on charges of extorting and abetting the extortion of the streamer, whose legal name is Park Jung-won. Choi faces an additional charge of coercing Park’s boyfriend, who was his client and CEO of Park's agency.

On Friday, the court convened an arrest warrant hearing at around 2:10 p.m.

Although Caracula and Choi arrived at the court at around 11:50 a.m., they did not make public appearances on their way into the building.

Left: YouTuber GooJeYeok, whose legal name is Lee Jun-hee; right: YouTuber Caracula, whose legal name is Lee Se-wook [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Caracula, whose legal name is Lee Se-wook, is accused of abetting the alleged extortion of Park by fellow YouTuber GooJeYeok for 55 million won ($40,129). He is also suspected of extorting 52 million won from another live streamer after colluding with GooJeYeok, whose real name is Lee Jun-hee.

The attorney Choi is accused of handing the personal history and tax records of Park over to GooJeYeok and also abetting Lee’s extortion scheme.

The prosecutors also believe that Choi forced Park’s ex-boyfriend to reach a settlement with Lee Jun-hee, who threatened to reveal a video about her past.

Park submitted a criminal complaint against Choi on July 25 and claimed that she had “paid 23 million won to him after signing a contract for legal services in fear of revenge by him” based on his knowledge of her past.

Lee Jun-hee has been detained since July 26, when his arrest warrant was issued. Another YouTuber, Jeon Gukjin, who was suspected to have conspired with Lee Jun-hee has remained in custody from the same day. Jeon confessed that he received 3 million won from his co-conspirator.

The case surfaced on July 10 after a YouTube channel, HoverLab, revealed a voice recording of a phone call between Lee Jun-hee and Jeon. In the exposé, Lee told Jeon that he received money from Park in return for keeping her past secret.

On July 11, Park said she had been “physically assaulted and threatened by her former boyfriend for four years.”

A criminal case against Park’s ex-boyfriend, who was charged with sexual abuse, physical assault and threats, was closed after he died by suicide during the investigation.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG, CHOI MO-RAN [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]