Court Orders Lawyer Who Blackmailed Tzuyang to Pay 73.1 Million Won in Damages
Partial Victory for Plaintiff in Damages Lawsuit
Countersuit Filed by Lawyer Choi Dismissed
A court has ruled that a lawyer who blackmailed the popular mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won), who has 10 million subscribers, must pay a total of 73.1 million won in compensation.
According to legal sources on June 21, Judge Kim Yuseong of the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 90 issued a ruling on May 21, partially siding with the plaintiff in a damages lawsuit filed by Tzuyang against lawyer Choi.
Lawyer Choi had previously provided Tzuyang’s personal information to other YouTubers, including “Gujaeyeok,” and was convicted of blackmailing Tzuyang for 23 million won. He was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, suspended for two years. This sentence was finalized by the Supreme Court in March 2026. A countersuit filed by Choi’s side was dismissed.
In September 2024, Tzuyang filed a lawsuit seeking damages, claiming that lawyer Choi leaked her personal information and spread false information.
Tzuyang initially claimed 150 million won, including the 23 million won that was extorted. However, the court ordered lawyer Choi to pay 73.1 million won in compensation. This amount covers 23.1 million won that was extorted through blackmail, 30 million won for losses due to changes in YouTube revenue, and 20 million won in consolation money.
The court pointed out that lawyer Choi leaked Tzuyang’s personal information related to tax evasion allegations to other YouTubers, stating, “The leaked personal information is closely related to her private life and could be used for secondary crimes. Considering that all the recipients were YouTubers, the possibility of dissemination and spread was extremely high.”
The court further stated, “It is reasonable to view that actual psychological harm resulted from the defendant’s act of leaking personal information.”
The court rejected lawyer Choi’s claim that the tax evasion allegations constituted a public interest disclosure and therefore should be considered a justifiable act. The court also recognized liability for damages arising from the dissemination of false information, such as publicly releasing a falsified will of Tzuyang’s deceased former boyfriend on YouTube and thereby misleading viewers to believe Tzuyang was responsible for his death, unlike the original will.
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The court stated, “The leaking of personal information and spreading of false information significantly damaged the plaintiff’s social reputation and positive public image,” and added, “There is a substantial causal relationship between the defendant’s unlawful acts and the loss of YouTube advertising revenue.”
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