On November 19, a new episode of Park Na-rae’s YouTube show Naraesik featured YouTuber and broadcaster Tzuyang, who opened up about the growing toll of fake news, particularly bizarre claims questioning her identity. Tzuyang recently served as a witness during a National Assembly hearing on curbing the spread of “cyberwreckers” and false online narratives.
Among the most ridiculous examples? The rumor that Tzuyang is not Korean. She shared, “People are saying my 12 million subscribers are all part of a Chinese network and that I’m Chinese myself.” These baseless claims likely stem from her stage name “Tzuyang,” which has no connection to her nationality.
While Tzuyang noted she had long accepted the scrutiny that comes with being a public figure, she admitted, “It reached a point where I questioned if I really needed to endure lies and completely fabricated stories.”
She isn’t alone. IU also faced similar unfounded rumors. In a March episode of Salon Drip 2, IU discussed the most absurd online post she had encountered. Host Jang Do-yeon asked, “What’s the most ridiculous hate comment you’ve seen?” IU replied, “They said I’m not Korean.” The claim left even the host baffled, wondering what the commenters hoped to achieve.
IU made it clear where she draws the line: “I don’t consider comments saying I’m ugly or can’t sing to be hate. But spreading falsehoods like these those require action.”
As more public figures fall victim to groundless nationality-related rumors, the issue underscores a growing need to address the damaging effects of fake news and protect artists from such malicious attacks.
Sources: Daum
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