As evident from mukbang star Tzuyang getting blackmailed by Gu Je Yeok to the late actress Kim Sae Ron‘s bereaved family suing Garosero Research Institute, “cyber wrecker” YouTubers are, surely, the biggest social issue in South Korea right now.
Late Actress Kim Sae Ron’s Family Will Sue YouTuber Lee Jin Ho For Defamation
The term cyber wrecker is said to have started in 2018 when a YouTuber used the term to describe how he and other YouTubers compete to upload entertaining content faster than others, just as private towing service operators eavesdrop on police radio broadcasts and compete to get to a car accident and tow the cars.
These days, the term is used to describe YouTubers whose primary content focuses on raising suspicions or spreading rumors about specific people, oftentimes exaggerating already-known facts or stating downright untrue stories to get viewers’ attention.
— Reporter Yoon So Yeon, Korea JoongAng Daily
That said, actor Kang Ha Neul—who took on the role of a cyber wrecker YouTuber “Woo Sang” for the upcoming K-Movie, Streaming—noted in a recent interview that he hopes “people who watch the movie recognize that Woo Sang’s actions are not right.”
As an actor, I had to portray Woo Sang thinking he was in the right. But if a cyber wrecker like Woo Sang actually existed, it would not be a good thing.
— Kang Ha Neul
Kang Ha Neul added, “I find it presumptuous to say this, but if watching this movie makes people perceive even one of the countless videos they can access on their phones a little differently, then I believe the movie has done its job.”
Woo Sang is an attention seeker. I wanted to depict him as arrogant, excessive, and full of self-importance. I based him on the kind of people I personally dislike—those who talk big but lack substance, those who focus only care about how they look on the outside, and those who build their entire lives on lies and pretense. Someone I would never want to befriend.
— Kang Ha Neul
Streaming is a thriller that follows the story of YouTuber Woo Sang, a popular “true crime” YouTuber, who stumbles upon a crucial clue in an unsolved serial murder case—as he chases the culprit and livestreams the entire process. The movie is set to hit theaters on March 21, 2025 (KST).
Watch the trailer here:
