YouTuber Tzuyang spends time with children during her visit to Sangrok Orphanage in Gwanak District, Seoul, in January of this year. Courtesy of Sangrok Orphanage

Famous YouTuber Tzuyang is known to have consistently supported a Seoul orphanage for more than five years without interruption, even after being defrauded of more than 4 billion won ($3.1 million) by her former manager and ex-boyfriend.

The total amount she has donated to Sangrok Orphanage in Gwanak District, Seoul, is around 200 million won. According to the orphanage, Tzuyang has been donating 3.15 million won, on average, every month since May 2019.

Although she had no prior connection to the orphanage, she felt moved after seeing a donation request on their website.

Boo Chung-ha, the orphanage's director, said in a phone interview with the Hankook Ilbo, "At that time, we had 29 children under our care, and the government support was insufficient. We posted a request for 3.15 million won on our website, and Tzuyang came to the orphanage and said, 'I will donate that amount every month.'"

Over the following months, Tzuyang visited the orphanage with four companions, helping with cleaning and spending time with the children.

She even invited famous chefs she knew through her broadcasts to cook meals for them. Boo added, "She quickly became close with the children, who would cling to her and ask her to play."

Even during a three-month hiatus from broadcasting in 2020, due to a controversy over undisclosed sponsored content, Tzuyang continued to donate 1 million won each month.

When it was revealed that several prominent YouTubers had been making paid promotional videos without proper disclosure, Tzuyang decided to take a break from the public eye amid the controversy.

During this time, the children at the orphanage sent her letters of encouragement, to which Tzuyang personally replied.

After returning to broadcasting, Tzuyang increased her monthly donation to 4.2 million won.

Letters sent by the children of Sangrok Orphanage to Tzuyang during an advertisement controversy in August 2020. Courtesy of Sangrok Orphanage

Director regrets not knowing Tzuyang's struggles

On Thursday, during a YouTube live broadcast, the famous "mukbang" (eating show) YouTuber revealed that she had been violently abused and financially exploitation by her ex-boyfriend over a period of four years.

Boo expressed regret over not realizing how difficult Tzuyang's life had been despite knowing her for several years.

"Tzuyang never showed any signs of distress, so I didn't notice. I hope those who tormented such an angelic person are properly punished," he said, seemingly unaware that legal proceedings were nullified due to the death of the alleged perpetrator.

Netizens have also expressed sorrow that they failed to notice signs of abuse in Tzuyang's past videos. Many of her videos show what appear to be bruises on her arms that she could have incurred during the alleged abuse.

There were frequent instances where she appeared on camera with bandages or patches. Some international subscribers even left concerned comments in English, asking if someone had grabbed her arm tightly and if everything was okay.

The prosecution is currently investigating allegations that some "cyber wreckers" (YouTubers who profit from exposing negative issues) have blackmailed Tzuyang with threats of exposing her past.

In a broadcast on Sept. 16, 2023, a bruise is seen on Tzuyang's wrist. Captured from Tzuyang's YouTube channel

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.