The Influencer’ Korean Winner Leaks His Own Victory, Netflix Holds Back $224,000 Prize

Netflix Korea has decided not to award the 300 million won ($224,000) prize to YouTuber Oking, the winner of its competition show “The Influencer Netflix,” after he leaked news of his victory before the show’s final episode aired on August 13. According to local news reports, the decision was made to uphold the integrity and fairness of the show, following a breach of confidentiality.

The leak occurred in May during a public dispute between Oking, a Korean influencer, and Choi, the former CEO of the blockchain platform Winnerz. The conflict arose before “The Influencer,” the Korean show, was even released, with Oking denying any involvement in illegal activities associated with Winnerz Coin, a cryptocurrency issued by the platform. Oking was also listed as a board director of Winnerz. Amid the dispute, Choi revealed that Oking had informed him of his win during a visit to his home on January 31, cautioning that the information must remain confidential to avoid penalties for breaching the show’s confidentiality agreement.

Choi’s Instagram post detailing this conversation effectively leaked the result of the competition, compromising the show’s suspense and anticipation. In response, Netflix Korea took swift action to minimize Oking’s presence in the show as much as possible through editing. The streaming giant emphasized the importance of maintaining the program’s credibility and fairness among participants, stating that confidentiality is vital to ensuring that the efforts of everyone involved in the show’s production are honored.

“To maintain the program’s credibility and fairness among the participants, the prize will not be awarded to the winner of ‘The Influencer Netflix’ who violated the confidentiality obligations stated in the appearance contract,” Netflix said in a statement on Wednesday. The platform added that safeguarding the confidentiality of a show before its release is essential to preserve the integrity of the content and the enjoyment of its audience.

The situation has further complicated Oking’s public image, as he was previously accused in February of being involved in cryptocurrency fraud alongside Winnerz. Although he has denied these allegations, the association with Winnerz and the breach of the confidentiality agreement has cast a shadow over his victory in “The Influencer Netflix.”

“The Influencer Netflix,” produced by Lee Jae-seok, is a social reality survival show that premiered on August 6. It features 77 influencers, including actor Jang Keun-suk and popular YouTubers like Pani Bottle, Risabae, and Oking, all competing to prove their value and influence. The show’s aim is to determine who among them has the most significant impact, but Oking’s breach of contract has led to the forfeiture of his prize, underscoring the importance of confidentiality in the competitive reality TV landscape.