Popular Korean livestreamer Kagwang, who has around 470,000 subscribers on YouTube, is facing intense backlash after allegations surfaced that a woman was mistreated during his livestreams, with viewers allegedly paying donations to influence what happened to her. Netizens are now demanding answers, including from YouTube itself.
Kagwang (Credits: Koreaboo)
The controversy began after a lengthy statement from a person claiming to be the woman’s legal representative started circulating online. According to that statement, the woman, born in 1995 and described as suspected of having an intellectual disability, had allegedly endured months of mistreatment while taking part in Kagwang’s content, including during a recent trip to Thailand.
The statement alleged that the woman, who was recovering from hip replacement surgery, was subjected to physical and verbal abuse, forced alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and financial exploitation. It also claimed she was prevented from eating because viewers had paid for a donation-based restriction on food, and that more than 20 million KRW (around $14,000 USD) was taken from her through appearance fees and viewer donations.
Kagwang Denies Allegations After Woman Reportedly Returns to South Korea
According to the statement, the woman requested help on October 21, prompting the alleged representative to contact the South Korean Embassy in Thailand. The writer claimed embassy officials intervened the following morning and placed the woman under protection, with arrangements made for her return to South Korea on October 23. The statement also threatened legal action against Kagwang and other broadcasters over allegations including abuse, coercion, confinement, and assault.
However, Koreaboo notes that neither the person’s credentials as a lawyer nor the allegations themselves have been independently verified. The woman’s alleged disability and the reported embassy intervention also remain unconfirmed.
The case is complicated by the woman’s history with the channel. She was already a recurring presence in Kagwang’s content and had appeared in numerous broadcasts before the controversy, and in earlier appearances she appeared to participate willingly in the channel’s provocative entertainment format. That history has made the nature of her participation and the boundaries of her consent central points of dispute.
What Kagwang Said in Response
On October 24, Kagwang issued a lengthy statement denying the allegations, and the following day he released a video addressing the controversy. He maintained that the woman had voluntarily participated in his broadcasts and signed an agreement outlining the activities, penalties, and revenue-sharing arrangements, and he shared the alleged contract as part of his explanation.
Kagwang disputed claims about the woman’s intellectual disability, saying she had no history of being diagnosed with such a condition. He also said he and other participants had experienced difficulties during the broadcasts. While acknowledging he should have exercised greater care with the provocative content and promising improvements, he denied abusing the woman.
His explanation has done little to calm the backlash. A post discussing the accusations on the Korean community site theqoo drew more than 80,000 views and hundreds of comments, with many netizens questioning whether a signed agreement could justify the activities described, and expressing particular concern about viewers who allegedly sent donations to encourage the treatment.
As of now, the allegations remain unverified, and the dispute between the two accounts continues to play out online.
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Source: Koreaboo — read the full story there.
