Tzuyang walks out of police questioning—calls investigation process unfair and plans formal objection.
🕵️♀️ Investigation ends in just 40 minutes
Popular YouTuber Tzuyang (real name: Park Jung-won, 28) refused to continue her police questioning just 40 minutes into her appearance at Seoul's Gangnam Police Station on April 16. She was scheduled to testify as the plaintiff in her case against the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute (GSRI) but halted the process due to alleged unfair treatment.
⚖️ Legal team says investigator was biased
Attorney Kim Tae-yeon, Tzuyang's legal representative, told Dispatch, "We raised concerns about the investigator's behavior before the questioning began, but it became clear that continuing the session would be meaningless." Kim added that they plan to file a formal complaint requesting the investigator's dismissal, claiming the officer appeared biased in favor of the defendant.
📄 Case complications and jurisdiction reshuffle
Tzuyang originally filed the case with Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. It was later transferred to Bucheon's Ojeong Police Station, but due to urgent and ongoing defamation content by GSRI, her team retracted the complaint and refiled it with Seocho Police Station for a quicker process. However, this led to complications—Gangnam Police later dismissed the case, citing her withdrawal of the original complaint.
Kim expressed frustration: "We clearly explained to Ojeong Police that we were re-filing for jurisdiction reasons, not dropping the charges. Dismissing it anyway raises questions."
🚫 Stalking and harassment charges initially dismissed
Police also dismissed stalking and coercion charges against GSRI host Kim Se-ui, claiming lack of evidence and arguing that his behavior fell under "freedom of expression" due to Tzuyang's public status. However, her team strongly disagreed.
Attorney Kim countered, "Kim Se-ui mentioned Tzuyang more than 30 times between July and October, and the court had even issued two provisional orders for him to stop stalking her."
📝 Seoul Central Prosecutors Order Reinvestigation
On March 14, prosecutors rejected the police's decision, ordering further investigation into five charges: creating anxiety under the Information and Communications Network Act, coercion, intimidation, violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, and leaking confidential business info.
Tzuyang's team also filed a formal request for case records from Gangnam Police, but it was denied. "Even a basic transparency request wasn't granted. It's baffling," Kim said.
⚖️ Meanwhile, others involved have been sentenced
Several YouTubers—Gu Jaeyeok, the "Fakebuster," Karakyula, Crocodile, and lawyer Choi Woo-seok—have already faced legal consequences for allegedly blackmailing or aiding blackmail against Tzuyang.
- Gu Jaeyeok: sentenced to 3 years in prison (immediate detention)
- Fakebuster & Karakyula: 1 year in prison, suspended for 3 years
- Crocodile: fined ₩5 million
- Choi Woo-seok: sentenced to 2 years in prison
[Photo Credit: KBS, Tzuyang YouTube Capture]
