Lifestyle vlogger Sissel embraces motherhood in Korea
Sissel poses with her baby in Seoul, Sept. 25. Courtesy of Emily Serby
New mother and YouTuber Sissel is no stranger to self-reinvention. Once a model, skin care brand ambassador, life coach and beauty vlogger, she’s now shifted her focus to a simpler pursuit: building a joyful life on and off camera, with her 1-year-old son, Noa, in tow. Her sunny life mission, she said, is to “never wake up on a Sunday dreading Monday.”
That relentless optimism might raise some eyebrows, but she doesn’t mind. She continues to strive for a healthier and happier life for herself and her family. And to the 877,000 subscribers of her YouTube channel, @sisselabs, Sissel embodies a grounded, family-centered version of foreigner success in Korea.
A leap of faith
Though Sissel’s ideal life plan had her starting a family in her home country, falling in love changed everything. She decided to build a stable life for herself in Korea.
When she first arrived in Seoul from Denmark seven years ago, Sissel was far from the established content creator she has grown into today. Jumping into that industry was a self-confessed “chancy” move at a time when foreign creators in Korea were still struggling to support themselves. “I spent my days trying to figure out ways to earn a living,” she told The Korea Times. “I filmed content, reached out to other creators and started taking some model jobs to make enough to pay my rent.”
Her main channel really took off when she shifted her focus from beauty to daily life. “That was a turning point — not just for my channel, but for my life,” she said. “I got out more, explored Seoul and made friends. What started as content became my way of living.”
Sissel holds her baby. Courtesy of Sissel
Motherhood, a rebirth
After Sissel’s pregnancy, she made the decision to give birth in Seoul — but not without reservations about raising a child in such a demanding, unfamiliar environment. She documented much of her pregnancy journey on YouTube, maintaining an open approach and sharing candid insights into the process with her followers.
Sissel describes the mainstream childbirth approach in Korea as “unnatural” and “extreme,” but said the natural birthing community provided her with a deeply empowering experience. “I feel very strongly about how pregnancy and childbirth are approached here in Korea,” she said. “I decided to go with a natural birthing center, Houm (formerly Medi Flower), which supported me with checkups, a doula and midwifery.”
Sissel describes motherhood as the hardest and most rewarding journey she’s ever been on, but feels grateful for a chance to grow.
“Even my lust for creating a life full of value — it’s grown so much,” she said. “I mourn the version of myself that no longer exists, but that mourning doesn’t overshadow the joy I’ve found in my son.”
Becoming a mother also changed how Sissel experiences her environment. “I am much more sentimental about Seoul now, especially about our home in Yongsan,” she said. What stood out most, however, was the warmth ordinary Koreans showed her during pregnancy. “People were so supportive. Seats on public transport, warm questions from strangers, priority in public spaces, it all made pregnancy very enjoyable.”
Even everyday encounters have taken on new meaning. “I can’t go outside without someone stopping me to express their excitement over my son. I love the warmth Koreans have for children, especially from elders and other moms,” she said.
Sissel credits this sense of community for deepening her connection to Korea, a place that once seemed foreign, but now feels more like family.
Shifting priorities
How does Sissel balance content creation with motherhood? “I don’t,” she said honestly. “My son is my priority, always. I never spend time with a screen around him.” That means the behind-the-scenes work like writing, editing and negotiating happens while Noa sleeps. “It’s chaotic, but I’m learning patience. Thankfully, we have this Danish word, ‘pyt,’ which basically means ‘oh well.’ I say that a lot these days.”
Motherhood has shifted Sissel’s personal relationship with beauty, which used to be a bigger part of her content. “I have so much respect for what my body went through that I couldn’t care less about other people’s perceptions. I still love fashion and makeup, but now it’s just out of passion, not pressure.”
Sissel has never been afraid of change, and motherhood only reinforced this instinct. “Right now, I’m focusing on motherhood because that’s where I am in life. My content has always changed as I’ve grown, and I plan to let it keep doing that.”
She joked that creating family content without showing her child’s face is not the smartest business move, but it truly protects her peace.
Her YouTube audience has continued to evolve along with her, too. “Some have checked out, which is understandable,” she explained, “but I feel closer to my audience now, and most of them are on the same journey.”
Her message to mothers-to-be in Seoul is simple: “Don’t be afraid to get out. That’s something I do a lot with Noa. The city can seem intimidating, but mindset is everything. Once you let go of fear, Seoul can be an incredible place to experience motherhood.”
When asked what she hopes her son will gain from her videos one day, she said, “I hope he gets inspired to do exactly what he wants, not what society tells him to do.” She added that this is also why she shares her life so openly with her audience.
Not everyone has embraced her upbeat approach to motherhood. Online critics have dismissed her content as being overly idealistic. But Sissel remains undeterred. “I share the hard days, too,” she said in a vlog, “because that’s what makes the good ones meaningful.”
In the end, motherhood hasn’t limited Sissel. Instead, she’s using it to rediscover and embrace joy and connection, one ‘pyt’ at a time.
Emily Serby is the host of Seoul Silent Book Club and a literary designer/marketing consultant working with dbBOOKS. She’s committed to building a more engaging literary community in Seoul.