South Korean YouTuber Gujeyeok (real name Lee Jun-hee) has received a final three-year prison sentence after being found guilty of blackmailing popular Mukbang creator Tzuyang, bringing an intense legal battle to a dramatic conclusion. However, the case may not end there, as his legal team has announced plans to file a constitutional complaint challenging the ruling.
According to reports, the Supreme Court rejected Gujeyeok’s appeal on March 12, confirming the lower courts’ decision that sentenced him to three years in prison. The ruling upheld both the first-instance and appellate court verdicts, which determined that Gujeyeok had committed extortion by threatening to reveal personal information about Tzuyang unless he was paid.
The court found that in February 2023, Gujeyeok allegedly approached the famous YouTuber claiming he had received tips about her private life and potential tax-related allegations. He reportedly told her that the information would not be made public if she paid him money. As a result, he was accused of extorting approximately 55 million KRW (around $41,000 USD).
Judges concluded that the defendant exploited the victim’s vulnerability by using threats of exposing private matters as leverage for financial gain. The courts emphasized that such actions represented a serious abuse of trust and warranted strict punishment.
Shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision became final, Gujeyeok’s lawyer, Kim So-yeon, shared a handwritten letter from the YouTuber on social media. The letter, reportedly written from prison on March 10, revealed that he intends to challenge the verdict through a constitutional complaint.
“I entrust all authority regarding the constitutional complaint to my attorney. Through this process, I ask that my grievances be revealed,” Gujeyeok wrote in the letter.
His lawyer confirmed that she had already received authorization to pursue further legal actions, including the constitutional complaint and potential accusations of judicial misconduct related to the case. She also expressed gratitude toward political figures and recent legal reform discussions regarding constitutional complaints.
Despite the final criminal ruling, Gujeyeok still faces multiple legal hurdles. In a separate civil lawsuit filed by Tzuyang, a court recently ordered him to return the 55 million KRW obtained through the alleged extortion and pay additional damages. The total compensation ordered in the case reached 75 million KRW.
The controversy does not end there. Gujeyeok is also involved in another criminal case related to defamation and insults against military YouTuber Lee Geun. In that trial’s first ruling, he received a two-year prison sentence along with a 15 million KRW fine, and the case remains under appeal.
With the prison sentence now finalized, public opinion in South Korea has largely turned against the YouTuber. Many observers argue that continuing to challenge the judiciary while claiming injustice has further damaged his reputation.
As Gujeyeok prepares to pursue a constitutional complaint, the high-profile case surrounding Tzuyang and online creator accountability is expected to remain a topic of discussion in South Korea’s digital media landscape.
Sources: MyDaily,Nate News
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