Female Singer Makes First Public Appearance In 7 Years After Suffering Brutal Assault That Broke Her Face

She spent her 20s in deep trauma.

A female singer is making the headlines in Korea after her re-emergence in the entertainment industry seven years after suffering a harrowing attack on the subway.

On April 16, KST, the singer made her an appearance on KBS 1TV’s AM Plaza, where she was introduced by her stage name, Phantom Queen. During the episode, she bravely shared her traumatic past that forced her to withdraw from the public eye in the prime of her 20s.

The attack took place when she was just 23. The singer recalled that she was listening to music with her earphones in on the subway and failed to notice a man behaving erratically near her. The man suddenly attacked her unprovoked, striking her face and body viciously with his fist. He was later subdued by the other passengers on the train.

The attack left Phantom Queen with broken facial bones. She had to endure a devastating amount of pain and undergo facial reconstruction surgery. Even after the operation, she couldn’t speak for over a month due to the intense injuries. But the psychological repercussions were even bigger.

The aftermath of this experience was tragic as the singer locked herself indoors, paralyzed by the trauma, for five long years. Eventually, when she started stepping out again with the help of her family, the presence of strangers, and especially men, prompted severe tremors in her body. This caused her to coup herself up for another two years.

Now in her 30s, the singer is slowly taking back her life and pursuing her passion for music. During her AM Plaza appearance, Phantom Queen proudly shared that she is now able to walk around freely and even take the subway without getting triggered. “My mother’s words gave me the strength to sing again,” she shared, hoping that she could pay forward that warmth through her music.

The story has drawn significant attention to Phantom Queen, bringing her massive support and admiration from viewers.

You can watch her performance here: