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Prosecutors indict Hoverlab operator Kim Se-ui on charges to stalking, threatening Tzuyang

Published: 31 Mar. 2026, 21:04

Kim Se-ui, operator of the YouTube channel Hoverlab, appears in front of Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on March 28, 2023. [NEWS1]

Prosecutors have indicted Kim Se-ui, the operator of the YouTube channel Hoverlab, on charges of stalking and threatening YouTuber Tzuyang, whose real name is Park Jeong-won.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has indicted Kim without detention on charges including defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, violation of the antistalking law and intimidation, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Kim is accused of repeatedly broadcasting content that allegedly spread false information about Tzuyang, who rose to fame on videos of her eating massive quantities, and exposed details of her private life.

The operator produced and distributed content about the YouTuber's personal life to generate profit, including through donations, prosecutors said. This caused serious harm and pressured her to issue explanatory broadcasts while continuing the content, according to prosecutors.

In July 2024, Kim released an audio recording without Tzuyang’s consent related to allegations that she had been blackmailed by another YouTuber over her past work at an entertainment establishment.

“I worked at an entertainment establishment due to violence and coercion by my ex-boyfriend,” Tzuyang later said.

YouTuber Tzuyang answers questions from lawmakers during the parliamentary audit by the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Oct. 14, 2025. [YONHAP]

However, Kim continued to broadcast claims suggesting that her explanation was false, leading Tzuyang to file a complaint.

Police initially decided not to refer the case to prosecutors in February of last year, citing insufficient evidence. However, prosecutors accepted an objection filed by Tzuyang’s attorneys and requested further investigation.

Her attorneys argued that the police's “willingness to investigate is doubtful,” and refused to appear for questioning. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station later reassigned the case to another investigative team, which concluded that charges were warranted and forwarded the case to prosecutors in September of last year.

“We will respond strictly to the distribution of malicious content that seriously violates victims’ personal rights under the pretext of ‘public interest’ or ‘private sanction’ in highly influential online spaces,” said a prosecution official.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]