Tzuyang

❧

Wikipedia

Tzuyang
Tzuyang in 2025
Born
Park Jung-won

(1996-04-14) April 14, 1996 (age 29)
Seoul, South Korea
Instagram information
Page
Years active2018–present
Followers290,000
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2018–present
GenreMukbang
Subscribers12.9 million
Views3.5 billion
Korean name
Hangul
박정원
Hanja
朴正元
RRBak Jeongwon
MRPak Chŏngwŏn
Last updated: 4 January 2025

Park Jung-won (Korean: 박정원; born April 14, 1996), known by the handle Tzuyang (쯔양), is a South Korean mukbang YouTuber.

Early life and education

Tzuyang was born Park Jung-won in Seoul, South Korea, on April 14, 1996. She attended Mirae High School of Science and Technology,[1] and then attended a university.[2]

Career

Before starting her mukbang channels, she was forced to work in her former boyfriend's bar.[3][4]

In 2018, Tzuyang started her mukbang channels on Afreeca and YouTube after people suggested it was a good way for her to enable her to live how she wanted.[5][6][7] She later clarified in 2024 that she was blackmailed into starting the channels in order to preclude the release of videos of her in sexually compromised positions.[2][3]

She gained rapid popularity due to her ability to stay slim despite eating massive amounts of food.[8] She reached the 1 million subscribers milestone in 2019,[6] and 10 million subscribers by 2024.[9]

In 2020, she was embroiled in an undisclosed advertising controversy, for which she apologized for not marking the videos as paid advertisements.[10]

In February 2024, a mukbang video that she posted featuring Kim Ji Young, a comedian who played a Filipina named Nitung (니퉁) in the South Korean television comedy show, Gag Concert, sparked a backlash for using stereotyped accents and a mockery of Filipino culture. The incident drew criticism from both Korean and international viewers, with many calling it racist and insulting to Filipinos. The video was removed eight days after it was initially released, and Tzuyang issued a public apology in Tagalog, English, and Korean, acknowledging her shortcomings and promising more sensitivity in the future.[11][12]

In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from March, 22 to April, 5, 2024, she was named Korea's favorite YouTuber, gathering 5.2% of 1,777 votes.[13][14]

In July 2024, Tzuyang revealed that she had been a victim of physical abuse by a former boyfriend who extorted her to the tune of ₩4 billion (US$2.93 million) and disclosed her most intimate moments to other YouTubers.[9] He was also the manager of the creative agency created to manage her, but he would take 70% of her earnings through an exploitative contract.[15] The criminal cases against him were closed when he "took his own life",[16] leaving her unable to reclaim the money owed to her.[15]

Subsequently, in August 2024, she reported four YouTubers, Jeon Guk-jin, Caracula, Gujeyeok, and Crocodile, to authorities for blackmailing her over her past actions.[17] The YouTube channels belonging to Jeon Guk-jin, Caracula, and Gujeyeok were demonetized by YouTube accordingly .[18] Her former boyfriend's lawyer, surnamed Choi, was also indicted for coercing, blackmailing, and extorting his client.[19] It was also reported that, while Choi was defending his client's company, and additionally after he passed away, he was the one leaking information about her to the YouTubers, allegedly attempting to extort Tzuyang and receiving ₩23.1 million (US$16,943.25) from her, while preventing his client from taking responsibility for the threats she face.[19][20]

Tzuyang took a three-month break from producing content, returning to YouTube in October 2024.[21] In November 2024, she received the Diamond Creator Award from YouTube for reaching the 10 million subscribers milestone.[22] To commemorate the milestone, she donated ₩200 million (US$146,694.78) to World Vision.[7] ₩100 million (US$73,347.39) of this donation came from sponsors of her channel.[7]

In July 2024, a defamation case was filed against YouTuber Kim Se-ui, head of the channel Hoverlab [ko], also known as Garo Sero Research Institute, and an investigation into the case is under way as of October 2025.[23] A separate lawsuit was filed in February 2025 against Kim alleging blackmail, coercion, and violation of privacy. The Seoul High Court eventually ruled in favor of Tzuyang, ordering Kim to pay ₩10 million (US$7,334.74) per future video if he mentioned Tzuyang.[24] Kim was also ordered to remove existing videos about Tzuyang.[4] Additionally, two restraining orders against Kim were ordered regarding Tzuyang, after she had been recognized as a victim of stalking.[23]

In May 2025, two women who blackmailed and extorted Tzuyang about ₩216 million (US$158,430.37) were indicted.[25] In August 2025, they were given suspended sentences and issued restraining orders after they had made full restitution. By way of restitution, they also made additional payment to Tzuyang.[26]

On 31 December 2025, Tzuyang won the Popularity Award at 2025 MBC Entertainment Awards.[27]

Personal life

In 2025, Tzuyang published her medical checkup revealing that her stomach is 40 percent larger than those with similar builds and her body had naturally adjusted to her substantial food intake.[28] She also revealed that she suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease affecting her sight, and may eventually be blind.[29]

References

  1. ↑ NtvNews.ID. "Profil Tzuyang, YouTuber Korsel yang Mengalami Kekerasan – Ntvnews.id". www.ntvnews.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "YouTuber Tzuyang opens up about 4 years of abuse by ex-boyfriend – The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. July 11, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  3. 1 2 김예랑 (July 11, 2024). ""저렇게 착한 사람을…" 쯔양, 40억 뜯기면서도 꾸준히 '기부'". 한국경제 (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Court orders Hoverlab to remove Tzuyang-related video content". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. April 17, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ Jun-hee, Park (July 11, 2024). "YouTube star Tzuyang tells of abuse by ex-boyfriend". The Korea Herald. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Jun-hee, Park (May 3, 2020). "Tzuyang eats her way to top on YouTube". The Korea Herald. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "'먹방'으로 구독자 1천만 돌파…"배고픈 아이들 위해" 쯔양 2억 기부". 매일경제 (in Korean). July 10, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Tzuyang's secret to staying slim? A look at the stomach of someone who eats 20 packs of ramen – The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. April 29, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Yim, Hyunsu (July 11, 2024). "South Korean YouTuber Tzuyang says she was victim of dating violence".
  10. ↑ 김자아 (August 5, 2020). "참피디 '뒷광고 폭로'에…수백만 유튜버들 줄줄이 '사과'". 머니투데이 (in Korean). Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ "#trending: Top Korean YouTuber apologises, removes 'racially insensitive' video said to mock Filipinos". TODAY. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ 이은 (February 5, 2024). ""노골적 인종차별"…'개콘' 니퉁 김지영, 필리핀인 희화화 '뭇매'". 머니투데이 (in Korean). Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Tzuyang named Korea's favorite YouTuber – The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. June 20, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ 뉴시스 (June 20, 2024). "한국인 가장 좋아하는 유튜버 '쯔양', 곽튜브·햄지 順". 뉴시스 (in Korean). Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  15. 1 2 조선일보 (July 10, 2024). "쯔양 "전남친이 4년간 폭행·협박, 40억 뜯겨...술집서 일 시키기도"". 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ "South Korean YouTuber Tzuyang says she was victim of dating violence". The Straits Times. July 11, 2024. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  17. ↑ "YouTubers to face trial for alleged extortion of mukbang star Tzuyang". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. August 14, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ "'Cyber wrecker' YouTubers apologize to Tzuyang over extortion conspiracy – The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. July 16, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Attorney indicted for allegedly leaking info, blackmailing mukbang star Tzuyang". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. August 28, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  20. ↑ ""변호사는 악마라더니"…쯔양 협박 설계하고 전남친 유서 조작". 매일경제 (in Korean). August 29, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  21. ↑ "YouTuber Tzuyang to come back after a three-month break". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  22. ↑ "'Mukbang' star Tzuyang celebrates 10 million subscribers with YouTube's Diamond Button – The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. November 4, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "YouTuber Tzuyang walks out of police questioning over stalking case against Hoverlab's Kim Se-ui – The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. April 16, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Who is Tzuyang? Mukbang creator who spends $7K on food and can eat nonstop while underweight". @mathrubhumi. August 1, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Two women indicted for blackmailing YouTuber Tzuyang". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. May 9, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Two women who blackmailed YouTuber Tzuyang given suspended sentences, restraining orders". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. August 20, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  27. ↑ ""죽을 만큼 힘들었다" 고백한 쯔양, 'MBC 방송연예대상' 인기상 소감 "너무 과분하고 영광스러워"". Daum. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Korean 'Big Stomach Queen' has gut 40% larger than average, surpasses many adult men". South China Morning Post. June 21, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  29. ↑ Entertainment, N. S. T. (October 4, 2025). "#SHOWBIZ: YouTuber Tzuyang shocks fans with incurable disease revelation, risks blindness | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved October 5, 2025.