A Ghanaian TV entertainer in Korea, Sam Okyere gained popularity on JTBC’s variety talk show Abnormal Summit and appeared in various other shows.
However, in 2020, he pointed out that a graduation photo by high school students in Uijeongbu, was racially discriminatory. This sparked controversy as past footage resurfaced of him making gestures that appeared to belittle East Asians. He was also criticized for revealing the faces of minors. As a result, Sam Okyere halted his broadcasting activities and took a long hiatus.
Sam Okyere Posts An Apology After Criticizing Black Face Parody By Korean High School Students
Sam Okyere recently appeared on the YouTube channel “K-Story” and shared updates about his life for the first time in about six years since the controversy.
In the broadcast, regarding the flood of malicious comments and his decision not to leave Korea despite halting activities, Sam said, “Honestly, it’s because I had nowhere else to go,” adding, “I came to Korea when I was 19 and became an adult here. I grew up here. In a way, Korea is my home. If someone tells me to leave home and go somewhere else, where would I go?”
He also spoke about those who helped him during difficult times, saying, “It’s true that I was hurt by people, but on the other hand, if someone was hurt by my actions or words, it’s also important to think about that. I thought a lot about that. If someone was hurt by my words, I feel very sorry. Thinking like that made it easier to naturally accept the love people gave me,” conveying his apology.
Reflecting on the past period, Sam said, “Honestly, I don’t know what I was doing. Time really flies,” and explained, “I studied more. After experiencing what I did, I realized there was so much I lacked and didn’t know about the society I live in, so I decided to learn more. I studied Korean very hard and also studied areas I was unfamiliar with. I tried different things in broadcasting but eventually gave up. I even started a personal business once. I feel like I tried almost everything I could.”
When asked if his perspective on Korean society had changed during his period of self-reflection, he responded, “It would be a lie to say I’m not cautious anymore. I’ve become very cautious. I now think twice before saying or doing anything. I’ve learned a lot. There were so many things I didn’t know back then. It really was a time for learning. I studied more about things I didn’t know. It’s much better to think and express emotions logically. Expressing emotions emotionally often leads to mistakes and unexpected situations. I now evaluate Korea more realistically.”
