YouTuber Sanghaegi Deletes SNS Amid DUI Hit-and-Run Allegations, YouTube Channel Remains Active

YouTuber Sanghaegi (real name: Choi Jae-won) is currently at the center of controversy following allegations of drunk driving and fleeing the scene. Immediately after the accusations surfaced, he deleted his social media accounts, seemingly attempting to evade the issue.

On the 23rd, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul announced that a man in his 30s, identified as A, was arrested and is under investigation for refusing a breathalyzer test under the Road Traffic Act. Police reported that A was caught driving under the influence on the morning of the 21st, traveling from Gangnam to Songpa in Seoul. He reportedly refused the police's request for a breathalyzer test, attempted to flee with a passenger, and was eventually apprehended after a pursuit.

As A was identified as a popular YouTuber with 1.65 million subscribers, speculation quickly spread online that he was Sanghaegi. Indeed, Sanghaegi, born in 1991, had 1.65 million YouTube subscribers as of the 23rd.

Further fueling the speculation, Channel A News broadcast footage of A abandoning his vehicle and fleeing, with his appearance, albeit with his face obscured, bearing a strong resemblance to Sanghaegi. This led online communities to solidify their suspicions. In response, Sanghaegi deleted his SNS account, which had 410,000 followers, in an apparent attempt to quell the growing criticism.

However, what has raised eyebrows is that as of the 24th, Sanghaegi's YouTube channel remains online without any apparent action taken against it. The comment sections of his videos are flooded with criticism regarding the alleged drunk driving and fleeing incident. Some netizens are even questioning if he is maintaining the channel to profit from views.

This sentiment is echoed in comments such as "Why isn't the YouTube channel being shut down?" and "Are you trying to make money from views?" The lack of any action from YouTube regarding the situation has further intensified public curiosity.

Sanghaegi began his career as an AfreecaTV BJ in 2018 and gained significant popularity after launching his YouTube channel in 2019. He recently expanded into entrepreneurship by launching a french fry brand, which operates approximately 30 franchise locations nationwide.