Former Roo'ra member Go Young Wook, who became the first celebrity to wear an electronic anklet after serving time for the sexual assault underage girls, has launched a YouTube channel, igniting widespread backlash.
On August 5, Go Young Wook announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he had created a YouTube channel. He shared, "I have lived a shameful life. Feeling like I was wasting away at home, I decided to break out of my lethargy and start YouTube. Stay healthy in this heat!" He provided a link to his channel, "GO! Young Wook."
Despite not appearing directly in the initial videos, Go Young Wook's channel quickly gained attention. As of 11 AM on August 7, his channel had surpassed 3,500 subscribers and was nearing 190,000 views, rapidly approaching 200,000 views.
Netizens have voiced their outrage, demanding the closure of his YouTube account due to his criminal past. In 2020, Go Young Wook faced similar backlash when he tried to open an Instagram account, only to have his account shut down because of policies prohibiting accounts for convicted sex offenders.
A YouTube spokesperson told Xportsnews on August 6, "There are no specific restrictions currently. However, if multiple reports are filed against the channel or if issues arise with the content, our community team can take action, such as closing the channel or deleting videos. Reports must be filed for us to review and take action."
Following this news, various online communities have seen a surge of comments such as, "What's his YouTube name? I'm going to report it," and "Reported it," reflecting public sentiment against Go Young Wook's online presence. Many users argue that he should not be allowed to profit from his YouTube channel due to his criminal history.
Go Young Wook's channel's high view count, despite relatively low subscriber numbers, suggests that many views may come from people intending to report the content.
In 2013, Go Young Wook was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting and molesting three underage girls multiple times. Additionally, he was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring anklet for three years and have his personal information disclosed for five years.
The controversy surrounding Go Young Wook's attempt to re-enter the public sphere through YouTube remains heated, with many questioning whether he can ever achieve full rehabilitation and acceptance.
SHARE
