A shocking truth has been uncovered behind the death of 26-year-old TikToker and aspiring actress Yoon Ji-ah, whose body was found in a remote mountain area of Muju, Jeollabuk-do, last month.
The case was featured on the October 3 broadcast of SBS’s investigative program Curious Stories Y, which traced the events leading up to her death and the identity of the suspect — a man in his 50s known in online communities as a “big spender” under the nickname Black Cat.
A Promising TikToker Found Dead in a Mountain
Yoon Ji-ah, who had over 300,000 TikTok followers, was discovered dead around 5 a.m. on September 13. Her body showed signs of strangulation and multiple bruises. Police immediately suspected foul play and arrested a 50-year-old man surnamed Choi just 12 hours later.
Choi was well-known in social media circles. He claimed to be the CEO of an IT company and approached Yoon under the pretense of helping her grow her social media presence. However, investigations revealed that he was in severe debt and used sponsorships to build a false image of wealth.
The “Black Cat” Who Spent Millions on TikTok
According to insiders, Choi was regarded as a VIP-level sponsor in the TikTok community, reportedly spending over ₩100 million (approx. $70,000) to reach Level 46, one of the platform’s top supporter ranks.
“He was more famous under his nickname than his real name,” an industry source told SBS. “To reach that level, you need to spend at least tens of millions of won — usually over one hundred million.”
Behind his lavish online persona, however, Choi’s financial situation was crumbling. On the very day of the murder, his house had been seized for foreclosure. Yoon Ji-ah, whom he viewed as both a partner and financial asset, reportedly wanted to cut off ties — escalating their conflict.
Desperation Turns Deadly
CCTV footage captured Choi kneeling and pleading with Yoon Ji-ah the day before the murder. When she refused to reconcile, he allegedly followed her to Incheon’s Yeongjong Island on September 11 at 3:30 p.m., assaulted her, and strangled her to death — just 30 minutes after she finished her last live broadcast.
After the murder, Choi transported her body in a suitcase to Muju, stopping eight times along the route to mislead investigators. Despite his careful attempt to cover his tracks, police arrested him within 12 hours.
Initially denying the crime, Choi confessed after investigators located the victim’s body.
The tragedy has sparked widespread discussions about the dangers of exploitative sponsorship culture in social media, as well as the pressure faced by young creators and trainees navigating fame and dependence in the entertainment industry.
Sources: Daum
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