YouTuber Oliver Sam Cancels Plans to Move to Korea Amid Family Concerns

On the 9th, YouTuber Oliver Sam announced that he has decided to cancel his plans to move to Korea following the news of his stepfather's passing.

Last month, on the 24th, Oliver Sam uploaded a video titled '[Canceling Korea Trip] Sorry... I Can’t Go to Korea' on his YouTube channel. In the video, he expressed, 'In my previous video, I shared the difficult situation that made me consider giving up my life in the U.S., and I was truly touched by the thousands of comments encouraging me to come to Korea.'

He continued, 'There were misunderstandings that I was trying to take advantage of the healthcare system, but honestly, I wasn't offended by those comments. It felt like a warm welcome, not a 'Yankee Go Home' but a 'Yankee Come Home'.' He explained that Korea feels like a second home to him, having lived there for eight years and still feeling a strong connection.

Oliver Sam's wife also became emotional, mentioning the aging and health issues of their parents. She said, 'As we age, we realize our parents are aging too. Seeing my father-in-law sick made me realize time is limited, and I thought of my parents in Korea as well. Parents, family, and friends are irreplaceable.' She clarified that they never intended to exploit the healthcare system.

Despite this, Oliver Sam's family ultimately decided not to move to Korea. He explained, 'The main reason is that my mother would be left alone in the U.S. It's challenging to afford the rising home insurance costs, and it's nearly impossible for my mother, who is over seventy, to manage the large property alone.' He added, 'This decision is due to our family circumstances.'

Finally, Oliver Sam shared, 'For now, we decided not to go to Korea. Honestly, it's difficult and sad,' expressing his complex emotions.

Meanwhile, Oliver Sam runs a YouTube channel with approximately 2.25 million subscribers. He previously worked as an English teacher in Korea before transitioning to a YouTuber. He married his Korean wife in 2016 and has two daughters. Since 2018, he has been residing in the United States.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr