YouTuber Who Stabbed another YouTuber to Death During a Livestream Sentenced to Life, Tells Judge 'Thank You'

A YouTuber convicted of stabbing a fellow streamer to death during live video had a bizarre reaction to being sentenced to life in prison.

A 56-year-old Korean YouTuber, identified only by his surname, Hong, was convicted of "retaliatory murder" in the Busan District Court, months after Hong murdered a fellow YouTuber, identified only by his surname, Cho. On May 9, Hong stabbed Cho as Cho was live streaming at the Busan District Court.

Cho was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Upon receiving his sentence, Hong thanked the judge, bowed before him, then exited the courtroom clapping.

"The defendant located the victim while watching his stream, and it took only 17 seconds to kill him," the judge said. "Hong planned his crime by purchasing a 30-centimeter-long (11.8-inch-long) sashimi knife a day before the murder and borrowing a rental car for his post-crime flight," said the court in documents obtained by Korea JoonAng Daily.

The two men had allegedly been friends for years before they began feuding as a result of comments Cho made about Hong's previous girlfriend on a livestream.

The judge also ruled that should Hong be released from prison, he would be required to wear an electronic monitoring device for 10 years.