South Korean influencer killed by debt-ridden business partner after attempting to end collaboration
The death of South Korean influencer and aspiring actress Yoon Ji-ah has stunned the nation, uncovering the dark deception of a man who posed as a wealthy sponsor while living under crushing debt.

- Social media personality Yoon Ji-ah, in her 20s, was found dead in Muju County on 13 September 2025.
- A man in his 50s, known online as “Black Cat,” has confessed to her murder after initially denying involvement.
- The suspect’s financial collapse and obsessive behaviour towards Yoon are believed to have contributed to the crime.
SOUTH KOREA: A young South Korean woman’s dream of stardom came to a tragic end after she was found dead on a mountainside in Muju County, North Jeolla Province — a place she had no known ties to.
According to The Chosun Daily, the victim, Yoon Ji-ah, a woman in her 20s, had been building a following of more than 300,000 social media fans while pursuing her goal of becoming an actress.
Her shocking death — and the revelation of the double life led by her alleged killer — has left South Korea reeling.
Police have arrested a man in his 50s, identified only by his surname Choi, in connection with her murder.
A Trust Betrayed
According to SBS’s Curious Story Y, which aired on 3 September 2025, Choi was a well-known figure in South Korea’s social media industry.
He introduced himself as the president of an IT company, offering to help Yoon boost her online reach.
Under the nickname “Black Cat,” he was seen as a generous sponsor, reportedly spending more than 100 million won (approximately US$73,000) to maintain his image as a wealthy benefactor.
But the truth was far darker. Behind his glamorous online persona, Choi was drowning in massive debt, and his house had reportedly been put up for compulsory auction on the very day of the incident.
According to The Chosun Daily, Yoon had grown increasingly uncomfortable with Choi’s controlling behavior and excessive demands.
She had been planning to end their partnership when tragedy struck.
CCTV footage captured Choi kneeling and begging Yoon shortly before her death — a chilling scene that foreshadowed what would follow.
The Final Moments
As reported by The JoongAng, the crime occurred on 11 September 2025 on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, shortly after Yoon finished a live broadcast.
Investigators believe Choi assaulted and strangled her before placing her body in a vehicle and driving along South Korea’s west coast.
He later abandoned her remains in a remote grassy field in Muju County, where her body was discovered two days later.
Yoon’s cause of death was confirmed as asphyxiation due to neck compression.
Her family said detectives told them that surveillance footage appeared to show someone forcibly pulling her back into a car moments before she disappeared.
After the killing, Choi allegedly loaded a suitcase into his car and drove for hours, stopping eight times to confuse investigators.
He was arrested 12 hours after the discovery of Yoon’s body.
Initially denying all charges, he later confessed once confronted with the evidence.
Producers of Curious Story Y speculated that Choi’s financial ruin and anger over his failed attempts to profit from Yoon may have driven him to commit the crime.
A Family’s Heartbreak
On 20 September 2025, Yoon’s family confirmed her death through a heartfelt post on her TikTok account.
“Our precious Jia has left this world, and our hearts are broken beyond repair,” the post read. “She was a gentle sunrise, warming the coldest mornings… Now, the world feels a little dimmer without her radiant smile.”
The family asked fans to remember Yoon with kindness and compassion, adding:
“Though Jia walks no longer beside us, her love and laughter will bloom forever within our hearts — like flowers that never fade.”
As investigations continue, South Koreans and fans worldwide have flooded her social media pages with tributes — mourning a young woman whose light, though extinguished too soon, continues to shine in the hearts of those she inspired.