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The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Akash Podishetti

Korean subscriber attacks stock YouTuber after losing money on investment

A man in his 20s has been arrested in Busan for allegedly attacking a stock investment YouTuber with a weapon after suffering losses on investments he made based on the YouTuber’s recommendations, according to a report in The Chosun. Busan Nambu Police Station said on the 14th that the man, identified only as Mr A, had been detained on charges of attempted murder.

According to police as quoted in the report, Mr A allegedly attacked a man in his 40s, identified as Mr B, at around 8:09 a.m. on the 13th inside a commercial building in Nam District, Busan. He is accused of stabbing Mr B several times before fleeing the scene.

Mr B is reportedly a stock investment YouTuber. Police said Mr A was a subscriber to Mr B's YouTube channel and had followed his investment recommendations. Investigators believe Mr. A developed resentment after losing a large amount of money from stock investments he made based only on the YouTuber’s advice.

Police said Mr A tracked Mr B’s whereabouts before the attack. He allegedly approached the victim with a weapon and attacked him after spotting him inside the building.

Mr B suffered serious injuries and was taken for treatment. He is reported to be out of life-threatening danger.

The case has drawn attention because of the growing influence of online stock influencers and investment content creators. Many retail investors follow YouTube channels, online communities and social media accounts for stock ideas, but such advice can carry high risk when used without independent research.

Police are expected to question Mr A further to establish the exact motive and the events leading up to the attack. They also plan to apply for an arrest warrant after completing the initial investigation.

Also read | Explained: 3 reasons why South Korea's Kospi crashed today

The incident highlights the risks around blindly following online investment recommendations. Market losses can happen even when advice appears confident or popular, and responsibility for investment decisions ultimately rests with the investor.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

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