Registered physical therapist, New York.
U.S. Physical Therapist | Geun Hwan Yoo
Could you tell us the story behind
your decision to pursue a career as
a physical therapist in the United States?
Q. I saw on Instagram that you shared
videos documenting your trip to New York
for the national board examination.
Among New York’s many landmarks,
which one left the strongest impression on you?
I would probably have to say Times Square.
It was the place where I truly felt,
“Wow, I’m really in New York.”
Seeing Times Square in person was exactly
as I had imagined from movies, television,
and various forms of media.
The massive crowds, the towering digital
billboards, and the overwhelming energy
of the city all came together to create
an unforgettable experience.
What I enjoyed most was being able to feel
the vibrant spirit of New York firsthand,
surrounded by the iconic sights and
atmosphere that make the city so unique.
Q.
I was impressed by how you manage
and operate multiple accounts,
including travel filmmaking, body profile,
and rehabilitation medicine content.
Could you briefly introduce each of them?
I started my travel Instagram account
because I wanted to document the places
I have visited over the years.
By combining short videos that I casually
filmed with music that matched
the atmosphere of each destination,
I was able to share those experiences
with others and preserve them
as meaningful memories.
As I expect to travel abroad
more frequently in the future,
I plan to continue uploading
new content on a regular basis.
I created my fitness Instagram
account when I was preparing
for a body profile photoshoot.
At the time, I wanted to keep a record
of my daily workouts and carefully managed diet.
I felt that looking back on the journey
after achieving my goal would be
something I could take pride in.
Even now, whenever I revisit those posts,
I am reminded of how hard I worked.
It gives me renewed confidence and
motivates me to keep pushing myself forward.
As for the rehabilitation
medicine YouTube channel,
it is currently in the planning stage.
Throughout my clinical experience,
I have encountered many
questions from patients,
as well as common misconceptions
about rehabilitation and recovery.
Through the channel,
I hope to share simple medical
knowledge related to rehabilitation,
explain exercise therapy techniques,
and provide reliable information
that can help people make better
decisions about their health and recovery.
Q. How did it feel to accomplish
your goal of completing
a body profile transformation?
Looking back,
what was the biggest change
you experienced compared to
when you first began the journey?
Since it was my first time seriously learning
weight training and committing to
a structured diet and fitness program,
completing the body profile journey gave me
a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride.
At the same time, I also felt a sense of relief.
After reaching my goal, I no longer felt
the need to be as strict with food as I had
been throughout the preparation process.
Looking back, the biggest changes
have been in my eating habits
and overall lifestyle.
I developed healthier habits, such as starting
my mornings with oatmeal and chicken breast,
avoiding carbonated drinks, and being
more mindful of my carbohydrate intake.
In addition, I established
a consistent fitness routine
and now make it a priority to exercise
at least four times a week.
More than the physical transformation itself,
I believe the most meaningful outcome
was building sustainable habits that continue
to support a healthier lifestyle today.
Q. In addition to your primary profession,
you actively manage various creative
platforms and communication channels.
Do you have any long-term goals or
aspirations that you hope to
achieve through these activities?
To be honest,
I don't have any particularly ambitious
goals or expectations for these channels.
I continue creating content simply
because I enjoy the process
and find it personally rewarding.
That said,
I do have one hope for the rehabilitation medicine
YouTube channel that I am currently developing.
Medical information can often be difficult
to access or understand, and there are many
common misconceptions surrounding
rehabilitation and recovery.
Through my videos, I hope to make reliable
medical knowledge more approachable
and help people better understand topics
they may have previously misunderstood.
If my content can provide useful information
and make a positive difference in even a small way,
I would consider that very meaningful and rewarding.
Q. Do you have any tips for maintaining
a healthy balance between work and personal life?
I do not follow any specific
time-management system.
Instead, I believe that maintaining a consistent
routine of going to bed early and waking up
early is the most important form of rest.
I find that it significantly improves the quality
of my sleep and helps me maintain
better energy levels throughout the day.
Outside of work, I try to spend my time
doing things I genuinely enjoy,
whether that's pursuing hobbies
or exercising regularly.
Making time for activities
that I enjoy helps me recharge and maintain
a healthy balance between work and personal life.
Q. Q. If you had to describe yourself
in just one word, what would it be, and why?
I think the word that best describes me is
“imagination.”
I often spend time imagining the things
I want to accomplish, the goals I hope to achieve,
and the person I aspire to become in the future.
Those visions of the future serve as
a powerful source of motivation.
They encourage me to stay disciplined,
keep moving forward, and
continue working toward my goals.
In many ways, the ability to imagine
what is possible is what drives me
to turn those ideas into reality.
