A former university classmate of popular South Korean mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang has been hit with a fine after authorities determined he fabricated claims that the creator secretly vomited after filming one of her signature extreme eating videos.
Tzuyang, whose real name is Park Jeong-won, has built a massive following of over 12 million subscribers on YouTube with her high-stakes mukbang content. Known for devouring enormous portions — sometimes claiming up to 30,000 calories in a single sitting, including oversized “king-sized” pasta dishes — the star has frequently faced online skepticism about how she maintains her figure despite the massive intakes. Rumors of “meokto” (a Korean term for eating on camera and purging afterward) have circulated in the mukbang community for years, often tied to broader questions about health and authenticity in the genre.
According to reports from the Seoul Central District Court, the classmate, identified as Mr. Oh (or “A” in some documents), contacted YouTuber Jeon Guk-jin — who runs the channel Jujak Gambyeolsa — in November 2020. Oh claimed to have personally witnessed “traces of vomiting” after Tzuyang returned from filming a giant pasta mukbang, implying she had engaged in the controversial practice.
The allegation stayed under the radar for years until Jeon referenced it in a July 2024 broadcast, drawing fresh attention to the rumor. Tzuyang’s agency subsequently filed a defamation complaint with Seoul’s Hyehwa Police Station.
Prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office took over the investigation in December 2024. After a supplementary probe, they concluded the claim was unfounded, citing key inconsistencies: the timeline described by Oh did not match the actual filming date of the pasta video, and statements from others present at the scene contradicted his account. Oh reportedly maintained that his story was true during questioning, but investigators found insufficient evidence to support it.
On Feb. 2, 2026, prosecutors summarily indicted Oh on defamation charges under South Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act, recommending a fine of 7 million Korean won (roughly $4,500–$5,000 USD, depending on exchange rates). A summary indictment is a streamlined process used for relatively minor offenses, resolved through written review rather than a full trial.
On March 6, 2026, Judge Kim Jae-hak of the Seoul Central District Court (Criminal Division 11) issued a summary order imposing the 7 million won fine. Oh was notified around March 12 and had seven days to request a formal trial; reports indicate he did not, meaning the penalty is expected to stand as final.
The ruling effectively clears Tzuyang of this particular 2020 accusation from a supposed eyewitness. While skepticism toward extreme mukbang content persists due to the sheer volume of food involved, South Korean courts have taken a firm stance on online defamation, especially when false claims spread via influential platforms and impact creators’ reputations and business opportunities.
This case is the latest in a series of legal challenges Tzuyang has faced from online harassers. Jeon Guk-jin, the YouTuber who received and later publicized the tip, was previously sentenced to one year in prison (suspended for three years) in a separate extortion case involving Tzuyang. He and others were accused of using threats to expose her private life to demand tens of millions of won. Another figure known as GooJeYeok (real name Lee Jun-hee) received a finalized prison sentence in a related blackmail matter.
Tzuyang has occasionally addressed health concerns and calorie-related questions in her videos, but the persistent rumors highlight the pressures faced by creators in the competitive mukbang space. The resolution comes as Korean media outlets including Chosun, MK, and SBS covered the court decision in late March 2026.
The case underscores ongoing efforts in South Korea to address defamation and cyber harassment targeting public figures in the digital entertainment industry.
