Broadcaster Sleeps in New York Closet to Fund Sons
Korean broadcaster Yoon Young-mi says she spent 2.6 billion won on her sons' education while living in a cramped rental room.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Child Care
Broadcaster Yoon Young-mi posted a photo on November 2 showing herself sleeping on a mattress inside a closet in a New York rental room of about 16.5 square meters. She says she spent a total of 2.6 billion won on her two sons' education, both of whom studied in New York and graduated in 2024.
Why it matters
Yoon's account highlights the steep out-of-pocket cost of overseas education and how a single parent's income can be stretched to cover it. Her husband, a pastor who aids North Korean defectors, had almost no income, leaving her to carry the expenses alone.
The figures come from Yoon's own social media post and have not been independently verified. She reports paying 5 million won per month in rent and 20 million to 25 million won per month for education, with her entire 2024 savings at 970,000 won.
The players
Yoon Young-mi
A Korean broadcaster and former announcer who has publicly shared details of her family's finances.
The details
Yoon moved to New York to live with her sons and slept in a closet inside the one-room apartment. She said she accepted jobs paying as little as 100,000 won, and her husband's limited income left her to cover all expenses.
Timeline
2024: Yoon's sons graduate, and her savings stand at 970,000 won.
November 2, 2026: Yoon posts the photo of her closet bedroom on social media.
Culture Shift
Yoon's account reflects the 'goose mother' pattern in South Korea, where parents relocate abroad with children for schooling while the household's income is stretched across two countries. Her case shows how that arrangement can leave one parent carrying the entire financial load.
Families weighing overseas schooling should budget for housing, tuition and living costs in the host country, which Yoon's account suggests can exceed 20 million won per month. Parents who relocate with children may need a clear plan for household income if one partner's earnings are limited.
The takeaway
Yoon's experience shows that overseas education can demand large, sustained sacrifices from a single parent. Families considering similar arrangements should plan finances for the full duration of their children's schooling.
Further reading
For more on the costs families face, see our Child Care coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
