What Career Did This Former Teacher Choose? "I Earn 150 Million Won a Year"

Former US Teacher Earns High Income as a Professional Hug Counselor

"Strictly Non-Sexual Relationships... Emotional Bonding and Trust Are Key"

A former teacher in the United States has gained attention after revealing that she earns a high annual income of approximately 146 million won by switching careers to become a professional hug counselor.

A former teacher in the United States has gained attention by earning an annual income of approximately 146 million won after switching careers to become a professional hug counselor. The New York Post

Recently, the New York Post introduced the story of Ella Love (51), who lives in New York and chose a new path after working as a public school art teacher for 13 years. She experienced severe burnout due to poor educational conditions, including overcrowded classrooms and insufficient budgets. Eventually, she left teaching eight years ago and embarked on a career as a professional hug counselor, comforting people through hugs.

Love said she stumbled upon an article about professional hug services and decided to undergo training for 300 dollars (about 440,000 won) before starting her new work. She explained that she wanted to find work that involved completely different energy.

She began the work as a side job, but within six months she took a sabbatical and ultimately did not return to teaching. Currently, she provides hug counseling to clients at a rate of 150 dollars (about 220,000 won) per hour. Her annual income can reach up to 100,000 dollars (about 146.7 million won).

Love shared that a significant number of her clients are middle-aged, married men with high-income professions, saying, "Many of them do not want to have an affair or leave their spouse, but rather feel that intimacy has disappeared from their relationships and need someone to offer a comforting touch and a listening ear." She added, "People may think they are just paying for a hug, but in reality it is much closer to an emotional healing process. Some clients even confide stories they've never told anyone else."

Love emphasized that her work is never sexual in nature. She said, "I conduct a pre-interview with every client, and there are clear rules of conduct and boundaries. I do not accept anyone with improper intentions."

She also works with people who have difficulty with physical contact, such as those on the autism spectrum. Love explained, "For some, this is their first experience of safe, consensual physical touch. This is a space where people can practice forming relationships in a comfortable environment." She added, "The relationship with clients is completely different from romance. The key is not simply physical touch, but emotional bonds and trust."

Meanwhile, experts explain that hugging goes beyond simple comfort and can have powerful medical effects on the human body. When you hug someone, the brain releases large amounts of oxytocin, known as the 'love hormone,' which rapidly lowers cortisol—the stress hormone—helping to stabilize heart rate and lower blood pressure. Endorphins and serotonin released during hugs help alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety disorders, and can even reduce physical pain. Hugging also stimulates the vagus nerve, a key part of the autonomic nervous system, helping to relax tense nerves and boosting immunity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.