SEOUL, South Korea – Renowned South Korean broadcaster Ahn Sun-young has announced her decision to move to Canada, a significant life change driven by her son Seo-baro's burgeoning ice hockey career. The move marks a dramatic shift for Ahn, who is stepping away from a 26-year career in broadcasting and an 8-year entrepreneurial venture to support her son's athletic aspirations.
Ahn, a familiar face in Korean entertainment since her debut as a comedian in 2000, shared her "big announcement" on her YouTube channel on July 4th. "I debuted in broadcasting in 2000, so it's my 26th year as a broadcaster. I'm also in my eighth year as an entrepreneur and my tenth year as a mother," she revealed, highlighting the various facets of her life before zeroing in on her broadcasting career.
She emphasized the significant role broadcasting has played in her life, stating, "Of those three, the one that takes up most of my life is being a broadcaster. I haven't rested once in 26 years. Thankfully, I've been loved so much, and every project I've done has been successful."
Despite her enduring success and being on the cusp of achieving many long-held dreams, Ahn made the profound decision to "boldly put aside all my career and move to Canada." She admitted to shedding tears while making the announcement, a testament to the weight of her choice.
The driving force behind this monumental decision is her son, Seo-baro. "The reason I'm giving up all of this is for Seo-baro," she explained. "He's a child who dedicates himself to sports as if it were his life, and fortunately, he has a talent for it."
Seo-baro's talent lies in ice hockey, a sport particularly prominent in Canada. Ahn recounted her son's successful tryout for a highly competitive team in Canada, a remarkable achievement given the difficulty for even local children to gain entry. "He took an entrance test at a place famous for ice hockey in Canada, a place where it's hard for even local children to get in, and he was selected among 13 out of thousands of applicants," she proudly shared.
Ahn initially tried to persuade her son to consider alternatives, explaining the personal sacrifice involved. "I told my son, 'You can play hockey in Korea too, but if mom leaves Korea, I might not be able to do broadcasting again,' and I tried to persuade him for a year," she disclosed. However, Seo-baro's determination was unwavering. "My son said, 'If mom can't come with me, I can stay in a boarding house alone,'" she recounted, highlighting his unwavering commitment to his dream.
Ultimately, Ahn chose to prioritize her son's aspirations. Her decision to move to Canada and put her broadcasting career on hold is a powerful demonstration of parental sacrifice and support.
While stepping back from traditional broadcasting, Ahn is not abandoning work entirely. She views this new chapter as an evolution. "Fortunately, the world has become a better place. My original dream was to become a digital nomad in two to three years," she stated. She plans to transition from a "live sales specialist" to a "new YouTuber Ahn Sun-young," embracing the challenge of a new life. "I don't consider this resting from work," she affirmed, indicating her intention to continue engaging with her audience through digital platforms.
Ahn Sun-young, who debuted as part of MBC's 11th open recruitment for comedians in 2000, married a businessman three years her junior in 2013 and gave birth to her son, Baro, in 2016. Her move to Canada signifies a significant personal and professional transformation, as she embarks on a new journey focused on nurturing her son's potential while adapting her career to the evolving digital landscape.
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