Former singer Ko Young-wook. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse) provided]
Former singer Ko Young-wook. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse) provided]

Former singer Ko Young-wook has spoken out about a possible return to the entertainment industry.

On Tuesday, Ko wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account that "given what the public knows about me, my return to broadcasting is impossible — that is a fact that won't change barring some extraordinary turn of events." He added that he had "already enjoyed far more public love and popularity than my abilities deserved," and that while he has personal regrets, he has accepted his situation and is living with it.

Ko described himself as "merely an ordinary citizen" and added that he was "just posting my own thoughts — stop acting recklessly and making a fuss, and focus on your own daily lives." The remarks appeared to be directed at the string of media reports generated by his social media posts.

Ko has recently been posting a series of comments on social issues and targeting fellow entertainers on social media — including former colleagues Tak Jae-hoon, Lee Sang-min, Yoo Jae-suk and Shin Dong-yeop, as well as celebrities he has no personal acquaintance with, such as Bibi, Lee Chan-won and Pungja. Each post, typically a shared news link with a brief commentary, has repeatedly stirred controversy.

Ko debuted in 1994 as a member of the group Roo'Ra. He was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting or molesting three minors between July 2010 and December 2012, and in 2013 received a confirmed sentence of two years and six months in prison. He was released after serving his full term in 2015. He was also ordered to have his personal information disclosed for five years and to wear an electronic ankle bracelet for three years.

In November 2020, Ko opened an Instagram account, saying he wanted to "cautiously communicate with the world," but the account was shut down within a day under a policy barring convicted sex offenders from using the service. He is currently active on X.


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