Ko Young-wook opens TikTok account after YouTube and Instagram bans

Ko Young-wook, a former member of K-pop group Rula who served prison time for sex crimes against minors, has opened a TikTok account.

On Sunday, Ko shared a TikTok video link on his X, formerly Twitter, account. The clip, posted without explanation, shows Ko walking past the camera in a black coat and hat, set to music.

Ko's attempts to establish an online presence have repeatedly been shut down.

He created an Instagram account in November 2020, but it was quickly closed under the platform's policy barring convicted sex offenders from using its service. In August 2024, he launched a YouTube channel called "Go! Youngwook," but it was removed 18 days later, on Aug. 23 of that year.

YouTube said at the time that it had closed the channel under its creator responsibility guidelines, which prohibit behavior that harms the community outside the platform. "The uploader can no longer own or create any other YouTube channel," it added.

Ko pushed back on X, writing, "Just because I'm a convicted felon, I didn't upload any harmful content — can YouTube really apply a rule that doesn't exist to just one individual?" He added, "I've served my legal punishment. Is it fair that some people can do this and others can't?"

Ko was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting or molesting three minors at his officetel and in his car between July 2010 and December 2012.

A trial court found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to five years in prison, seven years of public disclosure of personal information, and 10 years of electronic monitoring.

An appeals court acquitted him on some charges the lower court had upheld and took into account settlements reached with some victims and the withdrawal of certain complaints. It reduced his sentence to two years and six months in prison, five years of personal information disclosure, and three years of electronic monitoring. The Supreme Court later upheld the sentence.

Ko was released from Anyang Prison in July 2015 after serving his full term. His electronic monitoring ended in July 2018, and the public disclosure of his personal information concluded in July 2020.

Since his Instagram and YouTube accounts were shut down, Ko has been active primarily on X.