"I’ve Paid My Debt to Society" Go Young-wook Fires Back at ‘Hope’ Author Over Secondary-Victimization Criticism, Says He Is “Considering Legal Action”

[Financial News] Go Young-wook (50), a former member of the group Roo'Ra who served a prison sentence for sexual assault and indecent assault of minors, has launched abusive personal attacks against a novelist who criticized his continued social-media activity and raised the possibility of legal action. Public opinion, meanwhile, has turned sharply against him, saying he is showing an audacious, blame-reversing attitude without remorse while continuing to inflict further harm on victims.
On the 9th, Go Young-wook identified novelist So Jae-won, who wrote the original novel for the film ‘Hope,’ in a post on his X account, formerly Twitter. He wrote, "I woke up this morning and was dumbfounded to see an article in which a writer named So Jae-won was making baseless malicious remarks about me. Your writing is something worth considering legally."
He also visited So’s account and left personal attacks, writing, "You look gloomy and barely have any followers," and, "Stop posting your crappy writing and live quietly."
He also took aim at So’s book ‘Hope,’ saying, "I consider someone a writer only if he is at least on the level of Osamu Dazai. Why are you trying to associate your novel with me?"
Go Young-wook particularly emphasized that he had already paid his debt to society. He claimed, "I was placed under probation for three years, and I completed it without violating even once the requirements to wear an electronic monitoring device or the restrictions on going out late at night. For 10 years, I also diligently went to the police station every year to have my photograph taken." He added, "You, rather, are inflicting further harm on me, my family and the people who support me."
Responding to So’s criticism that he should be hiding even if it were not enough, Go mentioned his mother’s illness and asked, "My mother cannot walk for more than 10 minutes, so I have to do the grocery shopping. If I hide away as you want me to, will you do the shopping for me instead?"
Earlier, on the 7th, So had strongly criticized on social media Go Young-wook’s continued activity, including his recent references to figures in the entertainment industry, despite having committed sex crimes against minors.
So lashed out, saying, "How can someone who did things to young girls that are too horrifying even to put into writing be so brazen and aggrieved?" He continued, "The victims and their families are still living with terrible fear and wounds. The law was too lenient to keep you locked up, but neither the world nor the victims have ever forgiven you."
Meanwhile, public outrage has intensified since Go Young-wook’s rebuttal was made public. Online communities and social media have been flooded with harsh criticism, including comments such as, "Do you think your crimes disappeared just because you were released from prison?" "Why do you lash out at criticism of yourself when you judge other celebrities?" and "What an shameless attitude that completely disregards the victims’ perspective."
Go Young-wook was indicted and detained on charges of sexually assaulting and indecently assaulting three minors on four occasions between July 2010 and December 2012. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, three years of electronic ankle-monitoring, and five years of public disclosure and notification of his personal information. After completing his sentence and being released in 2015, he was effectively expelled from the entertainment industry. Recently, however, he has attempted to resume activities through social media, sparking controversy day after day.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter