Artist shares history of repeated harassment and resulting anxiety

A 36-year-old contemporary artist appeared on the KBS Joy program 'Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller' on the 26th to discuss how repeated unwanted physical contact from childhood to two years ago has caused her to live in constant hyper-vigilance.

A woman who has repeatedly experienced unwanted physical contact and inappropriate behavior in public spaces from her childhood into adulthood appeared on a broadcast to share her struggles. She shared that as these unpleasant experiences accumulated, she began to feel the need to be hyper-vigilant while traveling and avoided returning home late at night. Upon hearing her story, Seo Jang-hoon suggested practical safety measures while urging her not to let the anxiety consume her entire daily life.

In the episode of the KBS Joy entertainment program 'Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller' to be broadcast on the 26th, a 36-year-old woman who runs an art academy and works as a contemporary artist appears as the storyteller. She revealed that she has experienced several unwanted situations from her childhood until recently. The background of her difficulty feeling comfortable with strangers in daily life and even in public spaces lies in these long-standing, repeated unpleasant memories.

The storyteller recalled an incident when she was about seven years old, when a stranger asked her for directions while she was walking home with her younger sibling. She explained that she experienced sudden physical contact on the street during middle school, and in high school, she encountered the abnormal behavior of a stranger who approached her closely on a bus. These experiences, which began in childhood, did not end as she grew up; she shared that she experienced another unpleasant situation during her commute just two years ago.

What was particularly difficult for the storyteller was the memory of being unable to respond properly to those situations at the time. She confessed that she would freeze up and find herself unable to speak due to the shock of the sudden circumstances. Because it was difficult to respond immediately to these unexpected threats, the experience of being unable to react became a repetitive pattern, leading to a daily habit of scanning her surroundings and remaining on guard.

This anxiety has also influenced her lifestyle. Not only does she feel burdened by returning home late, but she has also become overly conscious of the people around her while moving from place to place. While she acknowledges the necessity of being careful to protect herself, she expressed concern that her excessive vigilance might cause her to view the world negatively. She appears to be struggling between the effort to stay safe and the desire to maintain a peaceful daily life.

Upon hearing the story, Lee Soo-geun and Seo Jang-hoon listened to the storyteller's anxious heart caused by her repeated experiences and contemplated practical coping methods together. Seo Jang-hoon introduced portable safety equipment that can make loud noises to request help in emergencies, suggesting preparedness measures that can be used in daily life. The intention is to move beyond merely telling her to be careful and instead think about ways to protect herself in actual situations.

Seo Jang-hoon's advice focuses on distinguishing between being vigilant for safety and living a life gripped by anxiety. He said, "Live happily and brightly, but prepare firmly." This implies that while an attitude of preparing for danger is necessary, there is no need to live viewing every person encountered in the future as a potential threat due to past experiences.

He added, "You will end up seeing even normal people as strange. That makes life difficult," expressing his wish that the storyteller would not be consumed by anxiety. This is interpreted not as lightly dismissing her repeated experiences or demanding unconditional optimism, but as an exhortation to equip herself with realistic preparations to protect herself without closing off other possibilities in life.

This story demonstrates the anxiety and vigilance that a person who has experienced unwanted behavior may carry in their daily life. Freezing up or being unable to speak during a sudden situation does not make the victim responsible. What is needed is not just emphasizing individual caution, but a social perception that holds those who engage in inappropriate behavior accountable, along with an environment where one can request help in emergencies. Attention is focused on what kind of empathy and reaction the storyteller's confession and Seo Jang-hoon's advice will evoke.

Read the original (Korean)