[CW/TW: Sexual Assault, Physical Injury, Mental Health Struggles, Suicide Attempt]
This article contains descriptions of sexual assault, serious physical and mental health struggles, and a suicide attempt that some readers may find distressing. Reader discretion is advised.
Gwak Hyeol Soo (22, real name Jeong Hyun Soo), a diet-focused YouTuber with over 220,000 subscribers, has bravely come forward on camera to reveal that she was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver, sparking widespread attention.
In a video posted on the night of November 2, Gwak recounted, “At 2 AM on May 23, 2024, I took a taxi in Seoul after drinking to return to my home in another province,” sharing the traumatic experience with visible emotion.
She recalled, “It was past midnight, the last train had stopped running, and I had drunk heavily, so I lost consciousness in the backseat of the taxi. The taxi driver parked in my apartment’s parking lot, came to the backseat, and sexually assaulted me,” describing the horrifying ordeal.
Gwak revealed the long-lasting impact on her life, saying, “I’ve spent 330 out of 365 days crying. As a daily life YouTuber, my work is sharing my life, but hiding this for a year and a half while continuing YouTube almost drove me insane.”
She expressed frustration and disbelief, adding, “I’m a victim of sexual assault. I don’t know why I have to hide this. I didn’t commit a crime, I’m not the perpetrator, so why should I have to stay hidden?”
The assault caused severe physical health problems. “After the assault, my body deteriorated. My uterus and vagina were seriously damaged, so for almost a year, I visited clinics from small local hospitals to major medical centers,” she explained. “I’ve taken so many antibiotics and medications that now I have my period twice a month, totaling 14 days,” she claimed.
She also reported unexpected side effects: “Normally, even with strict dieting, my hair never fell out—but after taking these medications, my hair started falling uncontrollably.”
Gwak explained that this incident motivated a shift in her content: “Recently, I’ve completely changed my channel direction to focus on healthy dieting because of this. I try to sleep more than eight hours, cook my meals, and exercise, yet my condition keeps worsening.”
Her mental health has also deteriorated significantly. “Yesterday, I experienced a severe panic attack. Seizures, panic, depression, and anxiety make it impossible to focus on work,” she said. She further revealed, “I attempted suicide in August last year but failed, which is why I’m still here.”
Describing her emotional state, she said, “Last night, when I lay down to sleep, my heart hurt so much, and I felt like I was really going to die. It felt like being trapped in a 165 cm box, unable to breathe.” She added, “Exercise relieves my depression and anxiety somewhat, but for panic attacks, I’ll need medication, so I plan to see a psychiatrist tomorrow morning.”
Gwak reported that she immediately reached out to the Sunflower Center, a support organization for sexual assault victims. “At the Sunflower Center, they collected evidence from every part of my body—ears, vagina, mouth, shoulders, chest—using swabs,” she said. Staff praised his courage, saying, “It’s very rare for victims to come this far after such an ordeal. You’re truly remarkable.”
However, the legal process has been long and grueling. “Even after a year and a half, the lawsuit is far from over. Our legal system forces victims to suffer for years,” she criticized. “Even when it seems almost finished, it never truly ends, and I feel like I’m slowly dying,” she added.
She also highlighted the secondary trauma she faced during the investigation: “During police questioning, they asked why I didn’t report it at the time. Do you think anyone could report immediately if they had been through this themselves?”
Gwak noted challenges with YouTube as well. “Videos with terms like sexual assault or sexual crimes automatically get demonetized, even though my content focuses on mental health and supporting others,” she said.
She expressed a desire to stop hiding her pain: “Why should victims always hide and suffer alone in this tiny room? I want to stop pretending to be okay and post videos showing myself crying to share my recovery process.”
Gwak also wants to encourage other victims: “How many of my subscribers have experienced sexual crimes? I want to create videos that uplift and support other survivors.” She emphasized, “If you are assaulted, report it immediately. Don’t shower—go to the Sunflower Center to collect evidence. Without evidence, no one will believe you.”
She concluded with determination: “I will never back down, even if it costs everything. I will fight harder and become stronger, thinking of past victims and those still suffering today.”
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