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Suspect in the murder of Korean TikTok influencer, aspiring actress revealed
Suspect in the murder of Korean TikTok influencer, aspiring actress revealed
The suspect in the murder of Yoon Ji-ah, a 24-year-old Korean TikTok influencer with more than 300,000 followers and an aspiring actress, has been revealed.
The body of Yoon Ji-ah, who was in her 20s, was discovered on a mountain in Muju County, North Jeolla Province, South Korea on Sept. 13.
Her body bore numerous bruises and signs of strangulation, Korean media reported.
On Oct. 3, the Korean TV show “Curious Stories Y” aired a segment detailing Yoon Ji-ah’s tragic death.
The suspect was identified as a man in his 50s surnamed Choi, who was ranked 46 out of 50 top TikTok donors.
Choi allegedly approached Yoon Ji-ah, claiming to be the CEO of an IT company and a wealthy individual.
He offered to increase her social media followers, and Yoon accepted, signing an exclusive contract with Choi.
But in reality, Choi was far from wealthy. He was deeply in debt, and his house was up for auction.
Yoon Ji-ah learned of his status on Sept. 10 and announced her intention to terminate the partnership with Choi. Choi reportedly came to her and begged on his knees.
Despite this, Yoon Ji-ah was determined to end the partnership. At about 3 p.m. KST on Sept. 11, Choi assaulted and strangled her, who just finished her last live broadcast in Yeongjong Island, Incheon.
Choi loaded her body in a vehicle and drove along the west coast and abandoned it in a grassy field on a mountain in Muju County.
On Sept. 12, the Gyeonggi Yongin East Police Station, which received a missing person report from the family, traced her movements and discovered that he had driven to Muju County in Choi's car.
The following day on Sept. 13, Choi was arrested at the scene on a roadside in Muju County Choi, who had refused to give a statement, admitted to the charges when her body was discovered about 50 meters away from the arrest site.
According to the TV program, another influencer who worked with Choi claimed that he appeared to have tried to use her for financial gain.
The program added that Choi killed her while he was on trial without detention for assaulting and confining a woman who was active on TikTok in December of last year.
On Yoon Ji-ah’s TikTok account, her family left a tribute.
“Our precious Jia has left this world, and our hearts are broken beyond repair. She was a gentle sunrise, warming the coldest mornings. She was laughter carried on the wind, and the quiet comfort in a crowded room. Jia loved bread, reached out to every soul she met, cherished her family, and filled even ordinary moments with light,” her family posted.
They added, “Now, the world feels a little dimmer without her radiant smile. Yet in every shared memory, in every echo of her kindness, her light still glows. To everyone who loved Jia, thank you for holding her in your hearts. As you remember her, please send your warmest wishes for her peace and joy in a place free from pain.”
“Though Jia walks no longer beside us, her love and laughter will bloom forever within our hearts—like flowers that never fade. She will always be near, just as she dreamed. On behalf of Jia, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks once again. Thank you,” they said.
The family wrote, “This space is a tribute to the beautiful soul Gia was. Please honor her memory with kindness, refrain from speculation, and join us in wishing only for her eternal joy.”