Popular livestreamer Yoon Ji Ah, a woman in her 20s, was killed in September, and her body was later found abandoned in the mountains.
SBS programme Curious Story Y recently revealed new details about the case, uncovering that the culprit was her 50-year-old sponsor, identified as Choi, who had been caught on CCTV kneeling and begging her for forgiveness just one day before the murder.
Yoon’s body was found in a remote, mountainous area in Muju, North Jeolla Province. Police believe she was killed sometime after 3pm on September 11. Her mother told reporters,
“The detective said at 3.27pm, the CCTV showed her about to get out of the car, but she was pulled back inside by force. The door then closed.”
Investigations revealed that Choi, who worked at a social media marketing agency, had approached Yoon under the pretext of helping her gain more followers. The two were in a business partnership, but things took a dark turn.
In fact, Choi was known on the livestreaming platform as a “big sponsor” or VIP fan, famous in the influencer scene for spending heavily on female streamers.
Another livestreamer said, “To reach level 50, you need to spend about 150 million won (around S$137,974.33). Choi’s level was 46, which means he had spent at least 100 million won (about S$91,496.50).” The platform ranks users based on how much they donate, and Choi’s high level reflected his massive spending.
Despite calling himself the CEO of an IT company, Choi was actually in financial trouble. His house had been auctioned off due to mounting debts. The night before the murder, CCTV footage showed him suddenly kneeling before Yoon, seemingly pleading with her about something.
The next day, Yoon Ji Ah was found dead.
