Ko Young-wook, who was serving time in prison for sexually assaulting a minor, has been permanently banned from YouTube.
On August 26 (Korean time), YouTube announced, “We have terminated the Go! Young Wook channel in accordance with our creator responsibility guidelines, which prohibit creators from engaging in off-platform behavior that harms the YouTube community.”
On August 5, Go Young Wook announced the launch of his YouTube channel, saying, “I have lived a shameful life. I felt helpless and the pain of aging at home, so I decided to start YouTube in a desperate attempt to escape from my lethargic daily life.”
Despite the public outrage, Go Young-wook’s video featuring his dog ironically garnered over 300,000 views within two weeks, encouraging him to upload even more content.
However, just 18 days after it was created, YouTube removed the channel.
Go Young-wook expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, “It seems like my YouTube channel was shut down overnight. I haven’t posted any harmful content, but I’m being targeted just because I have a criminal record. I’ve completed my sentence, so why are some things allowed and some not? Is this really fair?”
YouTube’s Community Guidelines state that if we determine that a creator’s behavior, whether on or off the platform, is harmful to the YouTube ecosystem, we can take action to protect our community.
The decision reflects YouTube’s determination that Go Young-wook’s conduct is harmful, including his conviction and two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting three minors on four occasions between July 2010 and December 2012.
Netizens have largely supported YouTube’s decision, with comments like:
“Harmful creators create harmful content” and “Sex offenders who deprive others of their rights have no rights.”
“Victims, especially minors, may be re-traumatized by watching Ko Young-wook’s videos on YouTube.”
Also read: Convicted sex offender Go Young-wook’s YouTube channel shut down