" Korea Is My Home, I Couldn't Leave" Sam Okyere's Tearful Confession After Five Years Of Self-Reflection

Five Years of Self-Reflection After the "Coffin Dance Boys" Controversy
Sam Okyere: "I Was Even Afraid to Go Outside"
He Also Confesses He Ultimately Gave Up After Repeated Attempts to Return to Broadcasting

Ghanaian-born broadcaster Sam Okyere appeared on a broadcast for the first time in about five years and spoke candidly about the time since the controversy. On January 18, he appeared on the YouTube channel "K-Story," where he shared how he has been and opened up about his feelings over the years. When former Assemblywoman Lee Jasmine, who hosted the show, asked, "It must have been difficult; how have you been?" he answered frankly, "I went through a lot."

Ghanaian-born broadcaster Sam Okyere appeared on a broadcast for the first time in about five years and spoke candidly about the time since the controversy on the YouTube channel K-story.

He said that the fact he had received far more love than criticism gave him the strength to endure. He recalled thinking, "Because I received so much love from Korean fans, I should endure this difficult situation in a way that would not make me ashamed in front of that love." As for why he did not return to Ghana after the controversy and chose to stay in Korea, he confessed it was "because I had nowhere to go." He said that since coming to Korea at 19, becoming an adult here, learning many things, and growing in this place, Korea now feels like home to him.

He said, "If someone told you to leave your home and go somewhere else, where would you go? I have nowhere to go," adding, "Thinking back over the past five years, I realized that my affection for Korea runs really deep. Even the way I think has become almost like that of a Korean person." At the same time, he admitted that the online backlash was not easy to bear. "There were so many aggressive comments that there were times I even hesitated over whether I should go outside or not," he said.

However, he said the reactions in real life were different. He recounted that elderly people he met at restaurants comforted him warmly, telling him, "You must have had a hard time emotionally." "At first, I was confused because the reactions online and in real life were so different, but in the end, I decided I should focus on the people who like me," he said. He also bowed his head, saying, "I was hurt by people, but if my words or actions hurt anyone, I felt a deep sense of remorse and I am truly sorry."

Earlier, Sam Okyere posted on his SNS a parody photo titled "Gwanjjak Sonyeondan" that Uijeongbu High School students presented as their 2020 graduation photo, pointing out that painting their faces black amounted to denigrating Black people (blackface). Sam Okyere's SNS

Earlier, in 2020, Okyere posted on his social media the parody photo "Gwanjjak Sonyeondan," which Uijeongbu High School students had used as their graduation photo, and pointed out that painting their faces black amounted to blackface and was demeaning to Black people. However, the controversy grew and backlash erupted over the fact that the students' faces were shown without being blurred and over the way he expressed his criticism. It later emerged that he had used the hashtag "teakpop" on social media in the past, which was interpreted as demeaning K-pop, and past claims that he had made a gesture belittling East Asians on a TV show were also revisited. On top of that, allegations surfaced that he had "liked" a sexually harassing comment, further intensifying public criticism.

As the controversy escalated, Okyere apologized, saying, "I am sorry that I did not blur the students' faces and that I failed to fully consider their position, given that they had no intention to demean anyone." Addressing the sexual harassment controversy as well, he said, "If there are people who were hurt by my actions or words, I sincerely apologize." In the end, he halted all broadcasting activities and spent time in self-reflection. Finally, Okyere said that over the past five years he has spent his time taking on challenges in personal business and learning new fields. He continued studying Korean steadily, but several attempts to return to broadcasting fell through, and he ultimately gave up, he confessed.