Korean Influencer Yoon Ji-ah Found Dead on Mountainside After Dispute with “Big-Spending VIP” Partner

06 October 2025

In a case that has stunned the influencer community, South Korean TikTok creator Yoon Ji-ah who had more than 300,000 followers was discovered dead on a mountainside in Muju County in North Jeolla Province. Authorities believe she was killed by asphyxiation through neck compression, and bruising on her body suggests foul play.

The timeline of her last hours is deeply disturbing. On September 11, Yoon broadcast her final livestream from Yeongjong Island, in Incheon, over three hours away from where her body would later be found. Roughly thirty minutes after the stream ended, investigators believe she was attacked. Her body was located abandoned in the grassy mountain area.

The prime suspect is a man in his fifties named Choi, who has come under intense scrutiny for allegedly leading a double life. Known among online circles as “Black Cat,” Choi introduced himself to Yoon as an IT CEO and was considered a “VIP spender” on video platforms. But behind the façade, it’s reported he was deeply in debt and had even lost his house to forced auction. Yoon, according to reports, tried to sever their business ties because of his controlling behavior and unreasonable demands.

Security footage and witness accounts add chilling context. Before she died, Choi is said to have blocked Yoon from exiting a vehicle footage reportedly captures the moment he slapped the door shut. The suspect allegedly made eight stops en route to the mountainside, supposedly in an attempt to confuse authorities.

Initially, Choi denied involvement. But after the grim discovery of Yoon’s body and mounting evidence against him he eventually confessed. Investigators are now piecing together whether his attempts to conceal his actions delayed the search and hindered justice.

Yoon Ji-ah was still in her twenties. Her rise as a TikTok figure and her growing influence gave her a platform many young creators aspire to. But the case also serves as a dark reminder of the dangers some influencers can face particularly when financial and emotional entanglements venture into toxic control or exploitation.

Legal authorities continue to investigate how much of this tragedy stemmed from power imbalance, debt pressure, or a breakdown in business and interpersonal trust. Through public statements, local media, and the influencer community, many are calling for accountability not just for the suspect, but for industry dynamics that often leave creators vulnerable.

As details continue to emerge, fans, fellow creators, and the public await transparency about motives, forensic results, and any accomplices. Yoon’s death has sparked conversation on the boundaries between creator and supporter, and the risks that lurk when those lines blur.