On October 3, SBS’s investigative program Curious Stories Y unveiled disturbing details about the murder of Yoon Ji Ah, who had more than 300,000 followers online. Yoon went missing after a livestream on Yeongjong Island in Incheon. Her family, unable to contact her, reported her disappearance. Three days later, her body was discovered in a forest in Muju County—nearly 300 km from where she was last seen—leaving investigators horrified.
An autopsy revealed she had been brutally assaulted and strangled. Police swiftly arrested a man in his 50s, identified only as Choi, a well-known figure in the streaming industry. Yoon’s father confirmed that Choi had presented himself as a mentor to many rising influencers, often referred to as the “godfather” of streamers. On the day of the crime, Yoon reportedly met with him after her livestream, where an argument may have escalated fatally.
Authorities believe Yoon was killed less than 30 minutes after ending her broadcast. Witnesses recalled Choi dragging a large suitcase from his house before traveling to multiple locations to obscure the investigation, ultimately discarding Yoon’s body in Muju’s mountains the following morning. Initially silent, Choi confessed after police recovered Yoon’s remains.
Known online as “Black Cat,” Choi was both a business executive and a talent broker, controlling the income of young streamers under strict rules. Reports revealed he imposed harsh restrictions, even using tracking apps on his clients. Friends said Yoon had been under extreme stress and wanted to terminate her contract with him.
On the day of the murder, Choi was reportedly facing financial ruin, with assets being seized and auctioned, fueling speculation that Yoon’s decision to leave drove him into a desperate, violent act. Alarmingly, police confirmed Choi had previously been investigated for illegally detaining another female streamer but still managed to reoffend.
Yoon Ji Ah’s tragic death has left the nation grieving the loss of a young woman once full of promise in entertainment. Her family now demands full accountability, insisting the perpetrator face justice to the fullest extent of the law.
