A Korean celebrity who was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting minors mentioned becoming a Japanese adult film actor, causing a stir.
On July 12th, Ko Young Wook (also known as Go Young Wook) posted on his personal social media account, “I just wanted to live happily making people laugh. It seems hard to find a job in Korea. I think I saw somewhere that there is a shortage of male adult film actors in Japan. If it’s legally possible,” causing shock.
Ko Young Wook debuted as a member of the group Roo’Ra in 1994. As Roo’Ra gained huge popularity with hit songs like “Angel Without Wings,” he also enjoyed great fame. Even after Roo’Ra’s activities ended, he appeared with his dogs on SBS’s TV Animal Farm and participated in various variety shows, continuing his broadcasting career with a cheerful personality.
However, starting in 2010, he was involved in three sexual assault cases concerning minors, causing a scandal. In 2012, after being accused of sexually assaulting a high school girl aspiring to be a model by giving her alcohol, he claimed consensual sex and was initially investigated without detention. At the same time, it was revealed that two years earlier in 2010, he had allegedly intoxicated and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old middle school girl but was acquitted after an agreement.
Moreover, in late 2012, while still under investigation without detention, he was later found to have molested another middle school girl and was arrested. After the case went to the Supreme Court in 2013, he was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. Additionally, he was sentenced to 3 years of location tracking via an electronic anklet and 5 years of personal information disclosure and notification.
He was released in July 2015 after serving his sentence but was effectively expelled from the entertainment industry, earning the dishonor of being the “first celebrity to wear an electronic anklet” and halting all broadcasting activities. However, he continued to reveal his lingering attachment to the entertainment world and desire to return to broadcasting through social media.
Especially after his electronic anklet was removed in 2018 and the period for personal information disclosure ended in July 2020, he attracted more attention. Ultimately, in August 2024, Ko Young Wook even launched a personal YouTube channel, which was later shut down by YouTube. He raised fairness issues on social media in response, sparking renewed public criticism.