"Lower-Body Remains Found in Korea" Hoaxer Announces Plan to Naturalize in Japan Amid Police Investigation

A YouTuber currently under investigation for spreading fake news that massive numbers of mutilated bodies were discovered in Korea has announced plans to seek naturalization in Japan.

Cho, a 33-year-old operator of a YouTube channel with 950,000 subscribers, recently stated in a video, "I will renounce my South Korean citizenship and naturalize in Japan."

Cho said, "I have wanted to become Japanese since seven years ago, but postponed it due to family relations," adding, "I have decided that now is the time."

However, Cho acknowledged that the ongoing criminal case could affect the naturalization screening.

Cho stated, "Because the Japanese naturalization screening also checks criminal records, if the case currently under investigation leads to a trial and a final conviction, there is a possibility that I will not receive naturalization approval."

Previously, Cho was accused of broadcasting false information in October of last year, claiming that "37 bodies with only the lower half found have been discovered in Korea" and that "the number of missing persons reaches 80,000," presenting them as if they were true.

Concluding that the fake news severely undermined national security and public image, police referred Cho to prosecutors without detention in February under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (charges related to violations of the Framework Act on Telecommunications).

Police also filed for a pre-indictment asset preservation order regarding the 3.5 million won in advertising revenue earned from the video.

In response, Cho reportedly denied the charges, stating, "I only introduced information posted on the internet and have never spread fake news."

(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee Da-in | Design by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.