Why American YouTuber is giving up on life in US after 8 years
YouTuber Oliver-ssam / Captured from YouTube
YouTuber Oliver Grant, widely known in Korea as “Oliver-ssam,” says he is leaving the United States after eight years, citing soaring insurance costs, unstable public services and what he described as a devastating experience with the U.S. health care system. The American creator, who has been living in Texas with his Korean wife, said the decision follows years of financial and emotional strain that ultimately made staying impossible.
Oliver revealed the move in a video uploaded on Friday titled “Eight years after immigrating to the US with my Korean wife… I'm finally giving up.” Filmed at their rural Texas home, the video shows the couple explaining why they decided to leave the U.S.
Oliver said one of the biggest triggers was the cost of maintaining their property. He explained that beginning in 2026, he must pay 11.56 million won ($8,600) in annual property taxes — covering both the land and structures — on their 26,446-square-meter property. He added that homeowners’ insurance has risen to $4,402, meaning the family now pays more than $12,000 a year “just to own the house.”
He said Texas has also become increasingly vulnerable to wildfires and hurricanes, with major insurers scaling back coverage — leaving residents reliant on expensive, limited plans.
Education was another concern, he said. Oliver explained that Texas schools have faced budget cuts as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the federal Department of Education for the first time in 46 years. With enrollment and funding falling, some schools have reportedly struggled to pay teachers and have even reduced school days to cope.
Oliver also pointed to climate-related risks, noting that the state continues to experience extreme heat above 40 degrees Celsius while lacking sufficient power infrastructure. He said projections indicate a shortage of more than 6.2 percent in electricity supply in 2026, intensifying fears of blackouts during dangerous weather events.
The most painful issue, he said, was the health care system. The couple pays $2,600 a month in insurance, yet still struggled to access timely testing when his father became ill.
His father was eventually diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Oliver said his father had repeatedly visited hospitals with symptoms and asked for testing, but could only receive exams through a primary doctor “who kept avoiding authorizing them.”
“No matter how badly he wanted a detailed exam, he couldn’t get one — and it was only found when it was already terminal,” he said, adding that the experience left him devastated and fearful. “It made us think this could be our future, too.”
His wife added, “We pay so much money, but the service is still not good. If we at least received good care, it might feel worth it — but we’re not.”
Born in 1988, Oliver married his Korean wife in 2016, and the couple now has two daughters, Cherry and Sky. After returning to the U.S. in 2018, he built a following of more than 2.26 million subscribers.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.