Ron Hartsell, from Tennessee, attended Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City; got a BA in Psychology May 1994, and a BA in Communications, Dramatic Arts May 1997

He lived in Seoul from 1998 to 2006 with his lover Hong Seok-cheon (see), where they opened a bar and restaurant, called Our Place, in Itaewon. A Christian support group started meets every other Sunday at Our Place.