American rapper NBA YoungBoy, the 26-year-old Baton Rouge native who built a large following through a prolific run of hip-hop releases, says his first visit to South Korea has left him with no desire to return to the United States to live.
YoungBoy made the comments during an appearance on comedian and internet personality Funny Marco’s YouTube series “Open Thoughts.” Asked about his experience in South Korea, he described the country as “very safe and clean” and said he liked its energy. When asked whether he would move back to the United States, his answer was emphatic. “Never in life.”
The reaction is easier to understand in the context of YoungBoy’s own life. He said he had few opportunities to travel while growing up in Louisiana and now enjoys experiencing places outside the environment he has known for most of his life. His comments suggest that the contrast he felt in South Korea, particularly in safety, cleanliness and everyday surroundings, made a strong impression on him during his first stay abroad.
South Korea is also occupying a different place in American popular culture than it did a decade ago. Years of global success by Korean music, television, film and food have made the country increasingly familiar to American audiences, while a growing number of U.S. travelers are experiencing the country beyond the entertainment they first encountered at home. YoungBoy’s comments offer an unusually visible example of that shift because he is talking about Korea not simply as somewhere to perform or visit, but as somewhere he would prefer to live.
That distinction gives the interview significance beyond a celebrity praising an overseas trip. An American rapper whose career and family ties remain rooted in the United States is publicly comparing everyday life in the two countries and saying that what he found in South Korea appeals to him more.
The decision would not separate YoungBoy completely from his responsibilities at home. He is the father of at least 11 children with eight women. Asked about living far from his children, he said they remained his highest priority, adding that “that’s what planes are for.”
The interview surpassed 1.8 million views within a day of its release. The attention reflects more than curiosity about where a famous rapper is spending his time. YoungBoy’s remarks show how South Korea, once known to many Americans mainly through exported entertainment, can now register as a place to experience everyday life itself.
