A gaming YouTuber in his 30s with roughly 1 million subscribers was abducted and beaten over a money dispute but rescued four hours later after he had alerted police in advance, authorities said.
According to the Yeonsu Police Station in Incheon, two men in their 20s and 30s ― including a suspect identified only as A ― are accused of kidnapping the creator, identified as B, around 10:40 p.m. on the 26th from an underground parking lot in Songdo International City.
Investigators say the suspects lured B to the garage by promising to repay about 250 million won, then assaulted him with a blunt object. They allegedly forced him into their car and fled about 200 kilometers (roughly 125 miles) to Geumsan County in South Chungcheong Province. Police tracked the vehicle and arrested the group in Geumsan around 2:30 a.m. on the 27th.
B had contacted police before the meeting, saying he feared for his safety, which helped officers quickly identify the getaway car using security camera footage from the apartment complex, authorities said.
At the time of rescue, B had sustained serious facial injuries but was not in life-threatening condition. He told investigators he was owed money by the group, according to police.
Police are questioning A and another suspect about the circumstances of the abduction and plan to seek arrest warrants once the initial investigation is complete.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)