(Seoul, 14th) Oh Seung-hwan, a former South Korean basketball player who later transitioned into acting and modelling, has returned to the public eye after a six-year hiatus—now appearing in a wheelchair, drawing widespread attention. He revealed that a serious accident six years ago changed his life completely. In recent years, he has gradually rebuilt his presence through TikTok under the influencer name “Wooni.”
In a recent appearance on the YouTube channel WERACLE, Oh shared that he has been using a wheelchair for six years. He recalled that the accident happened in winter while he was returning home from work. Near a flowerbed area in his residential neighbourhood, he slipped on icy ground and suffered injuries to the back of his head and neck, damaging his C5 and C6 vertebrae. “After I got injured, my life turned upside down,” he said.
Oh explained that he was only 21 at the time and struggled deeply with the sudden change. He described a long period of emotional low points, barely speaking and constantly questioning how to move forward. He also admitted that he initially gave up on himself, often sleeping until 2 or 3 p.m., saying that in his dreams he could “run again.”
He shared that he resisted rehabilitation at first, but his parents’ encouragement helped him change course. They told him to try his best first and only regret it later if needed. That mindset pushed him to endure rehab and slowly improve. He added that his right leg has recovered relatively well, while his left leg remains paralysed.
Oh began using TikTok in 2022, but initially avoided showing his wheelchair frequently, fearing people might think he was “profiting from paralysis.” He said he started with only a handful of followers, but unexpectedly went viral after being recommended by a Thai celebrity. He has since worked on improving his English and gained more international supporters—so much so that fans even welcomed him at the airport during a trip to Thailand, which he described as both surprising and deeply touching.
