The South Korean legal system is stepping up to protect digital creators from malicious rumors. Recently, a former college acquaintance of massive mukbang star Tzuyang (Park Jung Won) was summarily indicted for defamation. The charges stem from fabricated rumors regarding the creator’s eating habits.

The 7 Million KRW Fine for False Claims

Under the Information and Communications Network Act, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has taken firm action against the acquaintance, identified as “Oh.” Prosecutors requested a fine of 7 million KRW (approximately $4,651 USD). This move sends a strong message against cyberbullying and the spread of baseless gossip in the content creation space.

Debunking the Harmful ‘Mukto’ Rumors

The controversy began in November 2020 when Oh reached out to YouTuber Jeon Guk Jin. Oh falsely alleged that Tzuyang practiced “mukto”—a term for vomiting after eating—specifically following a “giant pasta” mukbang broadcast. However, a rigorous investigation quickly dismantled these damaging claims.

• Timeline flaws: Prosecutors discovered major discrepancies between Oh’s fabricated timeline and the actual filming dates.
• Witness accounts: Contradictory witness testimonies proved beyond a doubt that the rumors were entirely false.

Thanks to these findings, Tzuyang’s name was officially cleared of the baseless allegations.

Justice Served in the Extortion Case

Unfortunately, these false reports had severe real-world consequences before the truth was uncovered. YouTuber Jeon Guk Jin used Oh’s fabricated claims to extort tens of millions of KRW from Tzuyang.

The justice system did not let this slide, previously sentencing Jeon to a suspended one-year prison term for the extortion scheme. With Oh now facing a severe financial penalty, all parties responsible for this cyberbullying incident are finally being held accountable.

The Korean internet landscape is evolving, and accountability for digital defamation is more critical than ever. What are your thoughts on how South Korea handles cyberbullying cases for content creators? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!