The tragic death of Korean influencer Yoon Ji-ah shocked the public after she was found dead on a mountainside in Muju County, North Jeolla Province, on Thursday September 11, 2025.
The young woman's body was covered in bruises and showed signs of strangulation. Before her death, Yoon Ji-ah, who was in her 20s, had been livestreaming on TikTok. Authorities believe the attack occurred approximately 30 minutes after her last live stream ended.
Ironically, he was previously known to be filming on Yeongjong Island, Incheon, a location more than three hours' drive from where his body was found, according to The JoongAng report. The prime suspect in the case is a man in his 50s named Choi, who is said to be the victim's mentor and business partner.
According to The Chosun Daily, Choi introduced himself to Yoon Ji-ah as the CEO of an IT company. He is known online as a "VIP philanthropist" with the nickname Black Cat, frequently spending money on donations on TikTok.
He managed to convince Yoon to cooperate by promising to help increase his popularity and following. However, behind that glamorous image, Choi was actually heavily in debt, and his house was reportedly seized through a forced auction.
Meanwhile, Yoon Ji-ah, who has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok, is said to have started wanting to end her working relationship because she feels pressured by her mentor's unreasonable schedule and instructions. The final CCTV footage shows a tense moment. Choi is seen kneeling and begging Yoon not to leave their partnership.
According to Chosun Biz, the victim's family claims that the surveillance camera also captured Yoon being forced to remain inside the car at 3:27 p.m. local time, before the car door slammed shut. Hours later, Yoon's body was found lying in a grassy field in the Muju mountains.
An autopsy confirmed the cause of death was asphyxia due to neck compression. The Chosun Daily report also stated that Choi was seen carrying a large suitcase heading towards the mountain area that same day, making eight stops along the way to cover his tracks.
After his arrest on September 13, 2025, Choi initially denied all charges. However, upon learning that Yoon's body had been found, he confessed to his actions. The Korean National Police are currently continuing their investigation to uncover the true motive behind the murder.
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