URGENT UPDATE (DEC 31): VERIFIED BILL INCREASE

Friends, I have raised the goal to $13,000 based on a finalized bill I received today from the university.

The Hard Truth: Due to an administrative change in my eligibility (SAP), I have lost my 25% tuition scholarship. I must now pay the full tuition sticker price for the Spring semester to maintain my status.

The Jan 5th Deadline: I have 5 days to clear the past-due balance and secure my Spring registration. If I miss this, I lose my F-1 visa status immediately. After 7 years of building my life here, I am fighting to not be forced to leave the U.S.(Amounts are based on my Student Accounts email and the school’s posted health-insurance premium rates.)

⭐ Who I Am

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My name is Eunjun Seo. Some people may know me as Luke Williams from YouTube. I'm a Korean international student in Los Angeles, currently in a PhD program in Business Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I've been in the U.S. for 7 years, building a life, following every rule, stayed in good academic standing til recent SAP, and working toward a dream I've had since I was 14 years old.

This week, I received two emails from my school:

I've known for weeks that I needed to write this. And I hesitated every single day. I was raised to believe that there are always people who have it worse. People without food, without homes, without choices. People who would trade places with me in a heartbeat.

That belief almost stopped me from posting this.

But silence doesn't make things better. It just makes people disappear quietly.

⭐ What Happened

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Until recently, I was managing. My parents supported me as much as they could, at huge personal cost. My father worked his entire career to help me study abroad. My mother sold properties, took on debt, and stretched every dollar to keep me here.

Then COVID hit. My parents' finances collapsed. My mother's health worsened – physically and cognitively – and my father just retired this month. The support I relied on stopped, not because they didn't care, but because they couldn't anymore.

For the past three years, my partner has been my entire lifeline. He paid my tuition at Cal State LA in 2022 and 2023, enabled my transition into my PhD program, covered my Fall 2025 tuition, and has paid my rent, food, and basic living expenses since 2022. Without him, I simply would not be here in this program at all. He believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself.

But now he's facing his own financial crisis. His former employer is withholding payments owed to him, and he's running out of resources after years of carrying both of us. I watch him stress every day, knowing that my survival has cost him almost everything. I feel crushing guilt because I can't help him. I can only take.

At the same time:

I sold my crypto. I canceled every subscription (even Grindr). Some days I survived on a single pack of soy milk.

⚖️ Why I Can't Just "Get a Job"

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I'm on an F-1 student visa. I am legally not allowed to work off-campus unless I get special government approval for "severe economic hardship," which takes months and is not guaranteed.

I've been in perfect legal standing for 7 years. I've never broken the rules. I've never worked under the table, even when friends told me to. My mom always taught me: illegal things, bad things, sneaky things – that's not right, and I shouldn't do it.

I've applied for scholarships. I've asked the school for emergency aid. I've looked into loans – but the Korean government doesn't support students studying abroad, and U.S. federal aid doesn't cover international student. 

⭐ Why This Is Hard to Post

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In my culture, we're taught to quietly endure hardship and not air our struggles. Growing up in Korea, I learned to value saving face, being self-reliant, and definitely not broadcasting personal financial problems online.

Asking for help publicly – especially like this – feels deeply uncomfortable. I know I'm not the only one hurting. I know many people have it worse than I do. When I see stories of others in pain, I ask myself: Do I really deserve help when others are struggling more?

But I'm starting to understand that asking for help isn't a competition of suffering. I'm not comparing my situation to anyone else's. I'm simply laying out my truth and humbly asking for a hand to get through a dark time.

OFFICIAL BUDGET (Required to Save Visa):

Without this, I risk losing my Spring 2026 enrollment, I risk falling out of F-1 status, and I could be required to leave the U.S.

Full transparency: I will post updates with receipts (personal details redacted) showing how funds are used.

⭐ Who I Am Beyond This Crisis

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I'm not just a student in crisis. I'm a creator, a storyteller, and someone who believes in giving back.

This still is from my first YouTube video, where I came out as a gay Korean student. It was one of the most vulnerable moments of my life—and it’s part of why I’m asking for help now.

P.S. If you want to see who I am beyond this fundraiser:

• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LukeWilliamsKorea

• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/djofficialofficial

You can watch my coming-out story here: https://youtu.be/-a0CWoLc3aE

As "Luke Williams," I was one of the first openly gay Korean YouTubers to share my coming out story. On my channel, I talked about Korean queer culture and tried to help other LGBTQ+ kids feel less alone.

I'm also a DJ. I've used storytelling DJ sets to pour out my depression, anxiety, and hope, including performing at events like San Diego Pride for the LGBTQ+ community. I created a series of themed sets called 'Therapy' and 'Remedy' because I wanted people to know: you matter in this world, and it's okay to feel that way. Two sets that mean a lot to me: OFFICIAL REMEDY #26 — “True Story” Listen on SoundCloud OFFICIAL REMEDY #23 — “Love’s Redemption: From Tears To Triumph” Listen on SoundCloud Let the music say what I can’t always say out loud.

Performing at San Diego Pride - using music to create safe spaces for our community

I want to become a professional who understands people's life stories and helps them find places where they can live, not just survive – whether that's in mental health, housing, or community spaces.

I try to mentor and support other LGBTQ+ people and Korean international students whenever I can.

After I stabilize and complete my degree, I want to support my parents, give back to my communities, and help others the way people are helping me now. I really do believe in paying it forward.

⭐ Why I'm Asking Now

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I’ve worked for 7 years to build a life here and get to this point. But right now I’m overwhelmed, and I can’t get through this deadline alone.

If you're able to donate – even a small amount – thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can't donate, sharing this campaign also helps more than you know.

Asking for help like this is incredibly hard for me, but watching everything I've worked for crumble in silence would hurt even more.

Every dollar brings me 11 days closer to staying. If you can't donate, sharing this with even one person could save my future. Thank you for seeing me.

With deep gratitude,

Eunjun Seo (Luke Williams)

⭐ Tax & Legal Transparency

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I’m working with my school’s International Office to stay compliant with F-1 requirements. Donations received are considered personal gifts to help with educational and living expenses and are not compensation for services.

⭐ Updates ________________________________

I will post updates here as progress is made, including receipts (with personal info redacted) to show full transparency of how funds are used.