Korean actress and influencer's battered body discovered in suitcase 30 minutes after final livestream

Thirty minutes after her final livestream, a Korean actress and influencer was murdered by a "VIP fan."

According to a report by The Sun, the fan stuffed Yoon Ji-ah's body in a suitcase then dumped it in a remote, grassy area in the mountains of South Korea. 

Police found her body on Sept. 11 in Muju County, North Jeolla Province. Detectives said the 20-year-old's body was covered in bruises and had signs of strangulation. Her cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation due to neck compression, The Chosun Daily reported.

Yoon, who had over 300,000 followers, filmed her final livestream on Yeongjong Island, Incheon, per authorities. Within 30 minutes, she was murdered; her body was discovered at a spot more than a three-hour drive from where she last went offline. Based on this timeline, Yoon would have been attacked almost right after she signed off. 

'VIP fan' suspect

The suspect, Choi, has been arrested. As reported on the Oct. 3 episode of Seoul Broadcasting System's Curious Story Y program, Choi is in his 50s and supposedly led a double life. 

Per The Chosun Daily, when Choi first approached Yoon, he introduced himself as the CEO of an IT company. Video platforms identify him as the "big-spending VIP" and "Black Cat."

He allegedly convinced Yoon to become his business partner by promising to boost her social media following. 

According to PEOPLE, however, Choi was not as successful as he made himself out to be. He "was ranked 46 out of 50" on TikTok, meaning he needed at least ₩100 million (around P4.1 million) to reach that level, said an industry insider. But sources said Choi was allegedly deep in debt and had lost his house through a forced auction. 

Eventually realizing his duplicity, Yoon supposedly decided to cut ties with him. Security footage caught Choi on his knees in front of Yoon, supposedly begging her not to cut their business deal. 

Yoon's family, reported Chosun Biz, said that more footage showed Yoon trying to leave a care but being "forcibly" pulled back in at 3:27 p.m. on Sept. 11. The door was then slammed shut. 

Detectives said Choi was seen with a suitcase driving to the mountain where Yoon's body was found. Hoping to confuse police, he stopped eight times on the way. 

Per The Chosun Daily and Chosun Biz, he was arrested two days after the discovery of Yoon's body. Choi initially denied the allegations against him, but eventually confessed to the murder after police told him Yoon's body had been found.