Malicious comments poured in even in the face of death... Family of YouTuber killed in South America: “Please, make it stop”

[Financial News] Popular travel YouTuber Jin’s Travel (real name Jo Jin-woo, aged 33), who shared his adventures as he cycled around the world, was killed in a hit-and-run involving a large truck in Bolivia. As his family grieves the tragic news, they have appealed to the public to refrain from baseless speculation and malicious comments.
On the 6th, a statement from the family, written by the late Jo Jin-woo’s older brother, identified as A, was posted in the community section of the deceased’s official YouTube channel.
A said, “My younger brother Jin’s Travel, who had received the love and support of so many people, passed away in an utterly sudden traffic accident involving a large freight truck.” He added, “The family is now mourning him amid deep grief and shock, and preparing for Jinwoo’s final journey.”
He earnestly asked people to “refrain from spreading unverified speculation or information that is untrue” about the deceased, and said, “Please also refrain from criticizing the family or the deceased, posting malicious comments, or making indiscriminate references to his private life.” He added, “The family, too, needs time now to mourn him fully and come to terms with our grief.”
The family is working with local diplomatic authorities to repatriate the deceased to South Korea. A explained, “All of the family members have put their daily lives on hold and left for Bolivia immediately. The journey back will not be easy either, so we plan to make the necessary arrangements for Jinwoo’s remains and, once we return, hold a formal funeral in Korea with family, relatives and friends in attendance.”
According to local media, including Unitel, Jo was riding his bicycle on Cívica Avenue in El Alto, Bolivia, at about 9:15 a.m. local time on the 4th when he was hit by a large freight truck and died at the scene. The truck driver, who was in his 50s, fled without rendering aid and was apprehended by local police several hours later and detained. The driver was not under the influence of alcohol and reportedly stated that he “didn’t see the bicycle.”
Jo, who launched his YouTube channel in 2020, was a travel creator who cycled across South Korea, Europe, Africa and North America, among other places, and connected with about 66,000 subscribers. He is believed to have been involved in the fatal accident after setting out from Mexico to cycle across Latin America, passing through Peru before entering Bolivia.
A video of him riding along a mountain road in Peru, posted on the 30th of last month—five days before the accident—became the last record of his life, and tributes from subscribers and netizens continue to pour in.

Hello. I am the older brother of the late Jo Jin-woo (Jin’s Travel).
It is heartbreaking and weighs heavily on me to share this sudden and tragic news.
My younger brother, Jin’s Travel, who had received the love and support of so many people, passed away in an utterly sudden traffic accident involving a large truck.
I offer my deepest words of comfort to everyone who was shocked by this sudden news, and I sincerely, sincerely thank everyone who has cared for and supported my younger brother over the years.
Our family is now mourning him amid deep grief and shock, and preparing for Jinwoo’s final journey.
I would also like to ask one thing of you.
Please refrain from spreading unverified speculation or information that is untrue about the deceased. I also ask that you refrain from criticizing the family or the deceased, posting malicious comments, or making indiscriminate references to his private life.
We will always remember with gratitude the many warm and noble sentiments expressed in mourning and remembrance of him.
However, our family, too, needs time now to mourn him fully and come to terms with our grief.
Please keep him in your prayers with warm thoughts, and be with us, so that his final journey may be peaceful.
We sincerely thank you for all the love and support you have given our Jinwoo over the years.
We are deeply grateful for the support we are receiving from the many officials at the Foreign Ministry’s embassy in Bolivia and from consular officials.
All of us in the family have put our daily lives on hold and left for Bolivia immediately. As the journey back will not be easy either, we are preparing to bring Jinwoo’s remains back safely and, once we return, hold a funeral in Korea with family, relatives and friends in attendance.
It would mean so much to us if you could wait a little longer and offer us comfort as we work to bring Jinwoo safely back to Korea for the last time. We bow our heads in sincere gratitude.
— The bereaved family —
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter