Attention-thirst online BJ risks highway race
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/ Screen capture from YouTube
By Ko Dong-hwan
Police announced Wednesday they grabbed a one-man internet broadcaster, also known as broadcast jockey (BJ), for broadcasting live an illegal highway car racing to attract more netizens.
Last November, the male BJ, known by surname Um, 30, broadcasted via online broadcasting platform Afreeca TV a highway car race between his two friends, both in their 30s. Speeding up to 180 km/h, they drove throughout a 20 kilometer-long course from Sangam-dong in northwestern Seoul eastbound to the north side of Yeongdong Bridge in just about seven minutes. BJ was in a separate car following them.
Um posted a video of the race he broadcasted on an auto trade website called Bobaedream. The video, mixed with the BJ’s comments in caption, showed he risked the high-octane action to attract more “star-shaped balloons,” similar to a digital coin exchangeable with real currency, that netizens give to their favorite BJs. One balloon is worth 100 won ($0.09) and BJs can exchange for currency 60-70 percent of the total balloons they earned.
But a visitor to the site reported the video to police. Seoul Mapo police grabbed Um and his racer friends.