South Korean travel YouTuber Jin Travel, whose real name is Cho Jin-woo, has died at the age of 33 after being struck by a large truck while cycling in El Alto, Bolivia, his older brother confirmed in a statement shared late on November 5.
According to OSEN, the accident happened on the morning of November 4, when Jin Travel was travelling by bicycle and was hit by a large cargo truck. An acquaintance first shared the news of his death with the family’s consent, and tributes from subscribers and acquaintances have poured in since the news broke.
In a post shared at around 11 p.m. on November 5, his older brother wrote that he was delivering ‘sudden and heartbreaking news with a heavy heart,’ adding that his younger brother had ‘passed away in a sudden traffic accident with a large truck.’ He said the family was in ‘deep sorrow and shock’ as it prepared for Jin-woo’s final journey, and thanked everyone who had cherished and supported his brother.
The family is now preparing the procedures to bring him home with help from local consulate officials, the brother said. Family members will travel to Bolivia to complete the necessary steps there, and a funeral will be held in South Korea after their return, attended by family, relatives, and acquaintances.
The brother also asked the public to refrain from spreading unverified speculation or false information about his death, and to hold back malicious comments and indiscriminate mentions of the family’s private life. He said the family needed time to mourn and collect itself, while adding that it would never forget the many warm hearts that had mourned his brother.
Jin Travel built his following by cycling around the world and documenting the journey, a format that turned long-distance rides into an ongoing travel series for his viewers. The sudden loss of a creator known for life on the road has drawn an outpouring of grief from subscribers, many of whom had followed his travels and cheered him on along the way. No further details about the accident have been released, and the family has asked for prayers and patience while it brings him home.
