The Tragic Story Of A Korean Man Who Was Found Dead After Giving Millions To Streamers

In a tragic turn of events in South Korea, a man in his 30s (identified only as Mr. A) was found deceased in his car, having accumulated a staggering debt of ₩150 million KRW (about $112,000 USD).

Mr. A had been spending up to ₩50.0 million KRW (about $37,200 USD) daily on donations to female internet streamers, commonly referred to as BJs, despite his ordinary office worker status. His family is now accusing the BJs and broadcast officials of fraud following his untimely death.

While the tragic event happened in May 2023, when Mr. A’s dire financial situation was uncovered posthumously, the case came to light again after his family filed a police report against several BJs, as reported by JTBC. The family alleges that the streamers deceived viewers for financial gain.

Mr. A had been deeply involved in what are known as “Excel broadcasts,” a type of internet show where guest BJs invite others, and donations determine their rank and whether they stay on the show. To keep his favored BJs from being expelled, Mr. A went into severe debt.

Some BJs have responded to the controversy, stating the donations were voluntary. One BJ mentioned to the media, “It’s unfortunate, but ultimately it was his choice to donate, and there’s nothing that can be done about it now.” However, allegations have emerged from the internet broadcasting community suggesting manipulation of donation amounts through fake accounts to spur competition and increase donations.

One BJ admitted to “self-donating” through employees to avoid expulsion, a tactic that was later reimbursed. This BJ expressed a belief that most viewers either ignore or accept such practices, stating, “I have self-donated to boost my score, but I think most viewers turn a blind eye, and even if they know, they don’t really care.”

Despite the accusations of deceit, the broadcaster’s side maintains that all promises regarding donations were fulfilled without manipulation.