Is TikTok’s sweetheart Eliza’s Diary 엘라 really the queen of the ‘Life in Korea’ niche or just the queen of copy-paste?
What started as whispers in comment sections has exploded into a full-blown scandal, with multiple creators accusing Eliza of stealing their videos word-for-word and passing them off as her own. And now, the receipts are out.
Who Is Eliza’s Diary 엘라?
Before the scandal, Eliza’s Diary 엘라 (aka @elizainkorea on TikTok and @eliza_mikunda on Instagram) carved out her corner of TikTok as a soft-aesthetic lifestyle creator.
With over 36.2K followers and a whopping 2.8 million likes, she built her brand around a mix of travel diaries, K-beauty content, and practical tips for navigating life in Korea.
She’s repped by Gushcloud, a global influencer marketing agency, proof that she wasn’t just posting for fun, she was turning her content into a budding career.
On the surface, Eliza embodied the “expat in Korea” influencer dream: pastel-toned videos, skincare hauls, coffee shops tucked in alleyways, and snippets of daily life wrapped up in aesthetic filters. To fans, she came across as approachable yet aspirational.
But behind the curated feed? That’s where the copycat allegations come in. And it’s why her reputation is suddenly hanging by a thread.
The Spark: TikToker Hayleahs Drops the First Receipts
The drama first erupted when creator Hayleahs stepped forward, showing side-by-side comparisons of her content against Eliza’s.
In her video, Hayleahs says:
“This is the most recent attempt of her remaking my ideas, as well as another person’s video, Carly. I have several other videos saved, but this is the most recent. And I’m gonna post the one that was the viral video that she took from me and then that’s it.”
Hayleahs’s claim? Eliza isn’t just hopping on trends. She’s remaking videos word-for-word, copying opinions, pacing, and captions, while stripping away credit to the original creators. And the kicker? The stolen version often goes viral, leaving the true originators in the dust.
Another Creator Joins In: “She Stole From Me Too”
As if that wasn’t enough, another TikToker jumped into the conversation with her own story. And her rant hit hard.
She explained the horror of logging on and realizing a mutual (Eliza) had stolen her video idea:
“Imagine opening up this app one day and seeing that one of your mutuals, who is a much bigger creator than you, has stolen your video and remade it word for word… She even liked my video before remaking it.”
The creator described feeling gaslit, wondering if she was overthinking. until she saw Eliza’s copy blow up while her original sat unnoticed. The comment section on Eliza’s post was filled with praise like “Finally, someone said it”—even though the smaller creator literally said it first.
“Yeah, I said it. She stole it from me.”
A Pattern of Copying
Both Hayleah and the second creator point to the same troubling pattern:
- Eliza allegedly targets smaller creators in the “Life in Korea” niche.
- She copies videos word-for-word, sometimes even after liking the originals.
- She then re-posts to her larger audience, reaping all the engagement and clout.
The second creator even admitted she was excited to be mutuals with Eliza at first, thinking it meant she was doing something right—only to feel betrayed when her own content was repackaged and amplified under someone else’s name.
“People like this should not be content creators, considering they can’t even fathom the thought of having their own original opinion.”
The Apology That Flopped
Eliza has apparently addressed the situation, but according to the second creator, her so-called apology was “disappointing” at best. Some even expect her to quietly delete it and continue posting as if nothing happened.
That lack of accountability only added fuel to the fire, leaving smaller creators frustrated and fans demanding answers.
Why This Hits Hard
On TikTok, where virality can launch careers overnight, credit is currency. Smaller creators are already fighting uphill battles against the algorithm. When bigger accounts allegedly steal their work, it doesn’t just sting, it steals opportunities for growth, recognition, and income.
And it’s not about “inspiration.” As the second creator put it:
“There is nothing wrong with using other people’s content as inspiration… but literally taking other people’s experiences and opinions and then passing them off as your own is ridiculous.”
The Verdict (For Now)
The big question now: Will Eliza own up to her alleged copycatting, or will she ride the algorithm wave and hope the drama blows over?
One thing’s for sure: the “Life in Korea” TikTok niche isn’t just about cultural commentary anymore. Right now, it’s about accountability, originality, and who really deserves the spotlight.
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