NBA YoungBoy Says He's Living in South Korea and Won't Return to the U.S. in Funny Marco Interview

In an August 11, 2026 episode of Funny Marco’s podcast Open Thoughts filmed in South Korea, rapper NBA YoungBoy (Kentrell Gaulden) said he is currently living in South Korea, ruled out ever moving back to the United States, and opened up about a heart condition, his dwindling appetite for new music, and plans for one final tour.

Editor’s note: This article draws on the August 11, 2026 Open Thoughts episode, reporting from Complex, HotNewHipHop, Rolling Out, and social coverage of the interview, August 11–12, 2026.

What YoungBoy said about living in South Korea

The conversation took place during Marco’s trip to South Korea, where YoungBoy has been based in recent months. When Marco asked whether he could ever see himself moving back to the United States, YoungBoy answered bluntly: “Never in life. No.”

He said he had long felt he never had the chance to get away before, and that adapting to life abroad has not been difficult for him. “I don’t have no problem with being away,” he told Marco, adding that there is “nothing there for me” in the U.S. that outweighs what he wants now.

YoungBoy did leave room for a different kind of return. He said he might visit the United States as a tourist at some point, but not as a resident. Multiple reports and recent sightings have placed him in Seoul, including areas such as Cheongdam.

Before South Korea, YoungBoy had been living on a ranch in Utah, where neighbors had reportedly begun warming to his presence. His move represents a sharp geographic and cultural shift — one he framed as deliberate rather than temporary.

Overseas months with family

YoungBoy has spent much of 2026 outside the United States with family, traveling through China (including Beijing), Norway, Belgium, France, and South Korea. He did not fully explain why he chose South Korea specifically, but the interview made clear he prefers distance from the environment he associates with trauma in America.

In his music, YoungBoy has repeatedly addressed hardship, legal troubles, and emotional pain tied to his upbringing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Open Thoughts appearance gave those themes a direct, conversational outlet beyond his lyrics.

He also emphasized that his children remain a top priority and that he wants to stay financially stable so they can travel and be with him.

Heart condition revealed on tour

Beyond relocation, YoungBoy disclosed a health issue that he said he kept private while finishing a recent tour.

“On tour, a doctor told me the left side of my heart was swollen and I never told nobody,” he said. “I just kept doing every show. I finished my tour out like that.”

He added that his heart “kind of still is enlarged on this little side” and connected the diagnosis to the emotional weight listeners hear across his catalog: “That explains the music though, right? She’s hurting.”

YoungBoy did not specify the condition’s cause, formal diagnosis, or current treatment. The revelation arrived alongside his broader signal that music is not his main focus right now.

Stepping back from recording and touring

Asked how many more albums he expects to release, YoungBoy said: “One or two.”

On touring, he was even more definitive. When Marco asked about future tours, YoungBoy replied: “One for sure. I go on tour one more time throughout my whole life and that’s it.”

Topic	YoungBoy’s stated plan
U.S. residence	No permanent return; possible tourist visits
Current base	South Korea
New albums	One or two remaining
Future tours	One final tour
Music priority	Not his current focus

At 26, YoungBoy remains one of the most prolific and streamed artists in contemporary hip-hop, with a catalog built on intense personal storytelling. His comments suggest he is weighing health and distance over the pace of releases and performances that defined much of his career.

Why the interview drew wide attention

YoungBoy rarely sits for long-form interviews. Open Thoughts — Marco’s podcast built around candid, often humorous conversations — offered a setting where relocation, family, health, and career limits could surface in one sitting.

The South Korea setting also stood out visually and narratively: an American rap star filmed abroad, stating he has left U.S. residence behind while discussing a swollen heart and a near-finished recording career. For fans who have followed his legal history, Utah ranch period, and constant output, the episode read as a consolidation of shifts that had been hinted at in music and sporadic public appearances.

Industry observers noted that even a partial retreat from touring and albums would mark a major change for an artist whose release schedule has often outpaced peers. Whether YoungBoy’s timeline is fixed or flexible remains unclear; he did not set dates for a final album or farewell tour.

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Discussion

YoungBoy’s interview combined geography, health, and career closure in a single conversation — rare territory for an artist who usually speaks through songs.

1. Would you move abroad permanently if you felt the United States held nothing left for you — even with children and career ties still anchored there?

YoungBoy said his kids matter most and that he wants them to travel with him. How do you weigh personal escape against family logistics and fan expectations?

2. Should artists disclose serious health issues to fans and crews before finishing a tour?

YoungBoy said he never told anyone about his heart diagnosis and completed every scheduled show. Is that resilience, a professional obligation to disclose, or something else?

3. If an artist says they have only one or two albums and one tour left, does that change how you listen to what they release next?

Some fans treat farewell announcements as marketing; others hear them as honest limits. Where does YoungBoy’s statement land for you?

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This article is news and general information, not medical advice. Heart conditions require professional diagnosis and care.