The legal representative of YouTuber Foot-and-Mouth Disease (real name Lee Jun-hee), who was sentenced to prison for extortion, has responded to the interview content of YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jung-won).
On the 24th, Kim So-yeon, the lawyer representing Foot-and-Mouth Disease, issued a statement saying, "On February 21, 2025, JTBC Newsroom reported under the title '[Exclusive] 'Do I have to die for it to end?' Tzuyang suffering from secondary harm,' and edited and broadcasted part of my remarks."
She continued, "The report made it seem as if I said, 'I don't know why the name Tzuyang came about' or 'Tzuyang is related to the Chinese People's Network and is a secret police.' However, this is merely a patchwork of parts of my statements, which are entirely different from the actual context," she emphasized.
Along with this, Lawyer Kim disclosed Foot-and-Mouth Disease's statement: "I am just personally curious; I don't know if it's because I haven't watched Tzuyang, but I don't know why the name Tzuyang came about. He is a South Korean YouTuber." "Tzuyang and (you need to read it separately) Wang Haijun, who is said to be related to the Chinese People's Network and the secret police, and the restaurant Dongbangmyeongju, which has been investigated for being related to the Chinese Communist Party's secret police. There are people related to Tzuyang's agency, and those who negotiated with Foot-and-Mouth Disease for 50 million won, who are involved in various businesses related to China, such as Youth Pay. And there are various circumstantial evidences coming out that are all related to the business of restaurant franchise and the god of commerce, so the situation is completely changing."
Lawyer Kim, who disclosed the actual statement, said, "The intention of the above statement is not that Tzuyang is directly involved with the Chinese People's Network or the secret police, but to explain that the representative of Actor Corporation, Park Hyun-cheol, who is collaborating with Tzuyang's agency and is in charge of the entrusted operation of Jeongwon Bunsik, is related to those involved in the allegations of the Chinese secret police, such as Wang Haijun and Dongbangmyeongju."
Lawyer Kim stated, "JTBC Newsroom intentionally edited my remarks, making it seem as if I claimed 'Tzuyang is directly involved with Chinese spies,' and this was further distorted by JoongAng Ilbo in their article on February 22, 2025, titled 'Does Tzuyang want to kill me? Tzuyang expresses his feelings about the Chinese spy theory and political involvement,' stating that 'Lawyer Kim So-yeon spread conspiracy theories that Tzuyang is related to Chinese spies.'
Finally, she said, "Such false and distorted reporting is expected to have a negative impact on the upcoming appeal trial of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lee Jun-hee, and it seriously undermines my credibility as a lawyer and constitutes a serious act that hinders the normal performance of legal duties," demanding a correction of the report.
Meanwhile, on the 20th, a sentencing hearing was held at the Suwon District Court for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, lawyer Choi Mo, and others including Joo Jak-gam (Jeon Guk-jin), Karakula (Lee Se-wook), and Crocodile (Choi Il-hwan). Foot-and-Mouth Disease was sentenced to three years in prison, and lawyer Choi was sentenced to two years. Both were released on bail last month but were taken into custody after the prison sentence was imposed.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease is accused of extorting 55 million won under the condition of not revealing the past between Tzuyang and her ex-boyfriend.
Hello, I am Kim So-yeon, the lawyer for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lee Jun-hee.
With the Chinese Communist Party's political interference in various countries and the global election fraud controversy, as well as the economic encroachment of Chinese capital in the domestic cultural industry, the Trump administration in the United States has also warned of a strong response, and our domestic political situation is very precarious. I regret having to respond to such trivial disputes.
However, due to the fake news incitement by JTBC and JoongAng Ilbo, it is expected that there will be an impact on the appeal trial of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lee Jun-hee, who has effectively been subjected to a trial by public opinion, and the defamation against me as a lawyer is serious, so I would like to explain the article in detail below.
On February 21, 2025, JTBC Newsroom reporter Choi Kwang-il reported under the title '[Exclusive] 'Do I have to die for it to end?' Tzuyang suffering from secondary harm,' and edited and broadcasted part of my remarks. The report made it seem as if I said, 'I don't know why the name Tzuyang came about' or 'Tzuyang is related to the Chinese People's Network and is a secret police.' However, this is merely a patchwork of parts of my statements, which are entirely different from the actual context.
Actual Statement in Full
"I am just personally curious; I don't know if it's because I haven't watched Tzuyang, but I don't know why the name Tzuyang came about. He is a South Korean YouTuber."
"Tzuyang and (you need to read it separately) Wang Haijun, who is said to be related to the Chinese People's Network and the secret police, and the restaurant Dongbangmyeongju, which has been investigated for being related to the Chinese Communist Party's secret police. There are people related to Tzuyang's agency, and those who negotiated with Foot-and-Mouth Disease for 50 million won, who are involved in various businesses related to China, such as Youth Pay. And there are various circumstantial evidences coming out that are all related to the business of restaurant franchise and the god of commerce, so the situation is completely changing."
The intention of the above statement is not that Tzuyang is directly involved with the Chinese People's Network or the secret police, but to explain that the representative of Actor Corporation, Park Hyun-cheol, who is collaborating with Tzuyang's agency and is in charge of the entrusted operation of Jeongwon Bunsik, is related to those involved in the allegations of the Chinese secret police, such as Wang Haijun and Dongbangmyeongju.
In fact, Park Hyun-cheol, who runs S&S Consulting, has Min So-won, a director of Tzuyang's agency, registered as a director, and Park Hyun-cheol has a history of being active as a director of the Korean Youth Committee, which was controversial for 'Youth Pay Coin.' The Korean Youth Committee has its office at the same address as Actor Corporation and has been reported to have attracted Chinese capital even before its launch, raising various suspicions.
Furthermore, at the time when reports were pouring in about Dongbangmyeongju and Wang Haijun being related to the Chinese People's Network, Park Hyun-cheol directly posted a support post and photos for the controversial event of Congressman Kim Du-kwan.
Considering these circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Park Hyun-cheol is not only closely related to Tzuyang's agency but also involved with the Youth Pay project and the Korean Youth Committee, and ultimately has connections with those involved in the allegations of the Chinese People's Network secret police.
Nevertheless, JTBC Newsroom intentionally edited my remarks, making it seem as if I claimed 'Tzuyang is directly involved with Chinese spies,' and this was further distorted by JoongAng Ilbo in their article on February 22, 2025, titled 'Does Tzuyang want to kill me? Tzuyang expresses his feelings about the Chinese spy theory and political involvement,' stating that 'Lawyer Kim So-yeon spread conspiracy theories that Tzuyang is related to Chinese spies.'
Such false and distorted reporting is expected to have a negative impact on the upcoming appeal trial of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lee Jun-hee, and it seriously undermines my credibility as a lawyer and constitutes a serious act that hinders the normal performance of legal duties.
Therefore, if the relevant report is not corrected by the end of today, I will inform you that I will take strong legal action against the reporters of JTBC and JoongAng Ilbo.
Thank you.
February 24, 2025
Lawyer Kim So-yeon, representative of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lee Jun-hee
[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]
