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Arrested ‘VIP’ Follower Reportedly Confesses in Killing of South Korean Influencer

Investigators are examining a disputed business partnership tied to the suspect’s heavy spending on livestream platforms.

Overview

  • Yoon Ji-ah, a TikTok creator in her 20s with more than 300,000 followers, was found dead on Sept. 11 on a mountainside in Muju County, North Jeolla Province.
  • An autopsy determined her cause of death was asphyxiation due to neck compression, with bruising reported at the scene.
  • Police identified the suspect as a man in his 50s surnamed Choi, who was arrested on Sept. 13, initially denied involvement, then confessed after her body was located, according to local reports.
  • Authorities believe she was attacked about 30 minutes after a final livestream filmed on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, more than a three-hour drive from where she was discovered.
  • Security footage cited by local media shows her being pulled back into a car at 3:27 p.m., and reports say the suspect was later seen transporting a suitcase and making multiple stops before her body was found in Muju; coverage also describes his high-tier supporter status and alleged debts.