"80 million won paid to Tzuyang"... 'Extortion and blackmail' in foot-and-mouth disease case, compensation amount increased in second trial

*This content was translated by AI.

YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won) won a partial victory in the second trial of a damages lawsuit filed against YouTuber Guje-yeok (real name Lee Jun-hee), who was accused of threatening her and extorting money.

The Seoul Central District Court's Civil Appeal Division 12-3 (Presiding Judge Jo Hoo-ok, Judges Sung Ji-ho and Kim Hyun-mi) held a sentencing session on the 21st for the appeal case in which Tzuyang sued Guje-yeok for damages. The court ruled that "Guje-yeok must pay Tzuyang 80 million won."

In the first trial, Guje-yeok was ordered to jointly pay Tzuyang 75 million won with fake inspector Juk-jak Gam-byeol-sa (real name Jeon Guk-jin), but the second trial increased the compensation amount to 80 million won.

The second-trial court explained, "The scope of claims was partially expanded in this court, and the facts recognized have increased."

Last July, Tzuyang revealed on a live broadcast that she had been subjected to four years of verbal abuse and sexual assault by A, a former So Sok-sa (CEO) and her ex-boyfriend, and that 4 billion won had been extorted from her. The case related to this matter was concluded with no grounds for prosecution after A took his own life.

Guje-yeok and Juk-jak Gam-byeol-sa were reported to have threatened Tzuyang in February 2023, saying, "We received reports of suspicions regarding tax evasion and private life. If you pay us money, we will not publicize this," and extorted 55 million won before being handed over for trial.

Subsequently, in September 2024, Tzuyang filed separate damages lawsuits against Guje-yeok and Juk-jak Gam-byeol-sa, claiming 100 million won and 50 million won respectively, and won a partial victory in the first trial.

The first-trial court ruled that Guje-yeok and Juk-jak Gam-byeol-sa conspired to extort money by threatening Tzuyang using suspicions related to her as an excuse and actually received 55 million won, determining this act as a joint tortious act.

Meanwhile, Guje-yeok was handed over for criminal trial on charges of extortion against Tzuyang and received a final three-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court last March. Afterward, he filed a constitutional complaint challenging the ruling, but the Constitutional Court rejected it.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.