“I won't give birth in Korea” Why YouTuber Jin-kyung Paik insists on giving birth in the UK

Jin-kyung Paik, a YouTuber who married a British man and is currently five months pregnant, has made her intention clear: she will give birth to her first child in the UK, not Korea. Although the environment is quite different from the familiar postpartum care culture in Korea, Paik remains firm in her choice to have the baby in the UK.

Appearing on the 'Shin-Yeoseong' segment of the YouTube channel 'Rolling Thunder' on the 11th, Paik shared various stories ranging from her pregnancy and childbirth plans to her life in the UK.

Having married her British husband, Paik is currently in her fifth month of pregnancy. She expressed the excitement of an expectant mother, referring to the baby in her womb as "half-British." The baby's nickname is 'Cheese,' and the gender is female. She revealed that the expected due date is December 8.

The location of the birth drew significant attention.

Paik, who is currently living in Korea, stated that she plans to move to the UK to expand her YouTube activities and will also give birth there. In response, Jo Hye-ryun and Lee Kyung-sil expressed surprise at the UK's childbirth and postpartum culture, which is markedly different from Korea's.

Regarding the birthing environment in the UK, Paik explained, "I heard that if you give birth in the UK, they just give you a slice of bread the next morning and you get discharged." Since it is a relatively familiar scene in Korea to recover at a postpartum care center for a certain period after childbirth, the cast's reaction was naturally heightened.

Lee Kyung-sil predicted, "The baby will probably be born after coming to Korea," but Paik was resolute.

"No. I am going to give birth to my child in the UK."

This moment revealed her determination to welcome her first child on her own terms, rather than being swayed by the surrounding environment.

Paik did not lose her signature witty humor. Mentioning her body type, she joked, "Don't I have a Beyonce-like backside? I feel like it's all going to come out at once," turning the studio into a sea of laughter. Regarding the duration of labor, she candidly shared her feelings as an expectant mother, saying, "I heard some people go through it for twenty-some hours."

In response, Lee Kyung-sil shared her own childbirth experience, offering advice as a veteran mother. Sharing her experience of wanting a natural birth but ultimately having to choose a C-section due to the baby's position, she provided a realistic account of how childbirth does not always go according to plan.

However, Paik will not be handling everything alone in the UK. Her mother is also planning to head to the UK to help with her daughter's childbirth.

Lee Kyung-sil spoke of the sentiment regarding Korean childbirth culture, saying, "All Korean mothers are like that. Her mother will definitely boil seaweed soup for her." This implies that even if the baby is born in the UK, a mother's desire to be by her daughter's side during childbirth is the same regardless of borders.

Ultimately, Paik's choice is not simply a matter of "Korea or the UK." It is closer to a process of choosing a birthing method that suits her, between Korea, where postpartum care centers and family-centered recovery culture are common, and the UK, which emphasizes relatively quick discharge and individual autonomy.

Even with childbirth approaching, Paik is preparing for her new life while speaking cheerfully about her choices. Following her marriage to her British husband and the upcoming birth of her "half-British" daughter, her future stories regarding pregnancy and childbirth in the UK are expected to draw significant interest.

Paik is active on the YouTube channel 'Honorary Brit,' where she introduces life and culture in the UK and her daily life there.