Popular YouTuber Tzuyang fell victim to blackmail and extortion by fellow YouTuber Gu Je Yeok (real name Lee Jun Hee), YouTuber Caracula (real name Lee Se Wook), and lawyer Choi, and now all three have been released on bail.

On January 23, the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 14, led by Judge Park Yi Rang, approved the bail requests for Gu Je Yeok, Caracula, and Choi. Another accomplice Jeon Guk Jin did not request bail, but Judge Park decided to release him without a request. The accused were initially detained on August 14, 2024.

The case stems from allegations that in February 2024, Gu Je Yeok and the Fraud Detector extorted 55 million KRW (approximately 39,000 USD) from Tzuyang by threatening to expose claims of tax evasion and personal scandals unless she paid them. In October 2021, they also allegedly threatened to release a video accusing her of "harrassing small business owners by filing excessive lawsuits."

Tzuyang previously revealed that she had been subjected to revenge porn threats, repeated assault, and financial exploitation by her ex-boyfriend and former agency CEO, 'A.' These details came to light during the investigation.

It was further revealed that Gu Je Yeok, during a phone call with Caracula and YouTuber Jeon Guk Jin, made disparaging remarks about Tzuyang's past, saying things that suggested they could extort 200 million KRW (140,000 USD) from her. Gu Je Yeok and Jeon Guk Jin also forced Tzuyang to promote a restaurant owned by an acquaintance by threatening to publicize damaging claims about her.

Caracula and another accomplice, Crocodile (real name Choi Il Hwan), allegedly advised Gu Je Yeok to prioritize monetary extortion over releasing an exposé video, citing financial gain as their primary motive.

Lawyer Choi became involved in the case after representing Tzuyang's ex-boyfriend 'A' in a civil lawsuit against a restaurant in 2021. During the lawsuit, Choi allegedly provided Gu Je Yeok with personal information about Tzuyang and 'A's premarital cohabitation, which he had learned during the legal proceedings.

In November 2024, Tzuyang testified in court, expressing disbelief at Gu Je Yeok's claims of innocence and vowing to "set the record straight."

The defendants, who were charged in August 2024, are subject to a maximum pretrial detention period of six months under South Korea's criminal procedure laws. The next hearing in their trial is scheduled for February 10. Meanwhile, Crocodile faces trial without detention for aiding and abetting the extortion.

Netizens expressed outrage at the news, leaving comments such as, "If you have money, you can get away with anything. It really is 'justice for the rich,'" and, "I wonder if they’ve even offered a proper apology to Tzuyang. It’s pathetic that several men would stoop to this just to extort money."

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