Samara McDonald and Uram Kim aren't the kind of couple who have a lot of time to reflect on life.

The 20-somethings are new parents to triplets — seven-month-old Gia, Illea and Taige.

They haven't been together long, and weren't expecting baby news given Samara was once told by doctors she "would never be able to have children".

ABC Life caught up with them in between crying babies, nappy changes and bottle feeds to hear about their action-packed romance, which has taken them across the globe and eventually back to regional NSW where they are adapting to life as a family of five.

Loading...

A new relationship and a big move

In 2010, a 15-year-old Samara from Bellingen was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Two relapses and rounds of chemotherapy and radiation later, she was in remission at 17, but was told she wouldn't be able to get pregnant.

Samara says Uram has been "her rock" since the babies came along. ( ABC Life: Jed Cooper )

Samara says her boyfriend at the time had cheated on her, so when she met Uram while working at a Japanese restaurant in 2017, romance wasn't really on her mind.

"I was a bit put off dating," she says.

But Uram's charm won in the end — and after eight months of dating, Samara found herself following him to Korea because his Australian visa was about to expire.

"It was pretty fresh," she says of the relationship at the time. "But I was young and thought, why not follow him?"

Living in small-town Korea and 'Surprise! You're pregnant'

Uram says the babies' smiles help him forget how tired he is. ( ABC Life: Jed Cooper )

Uram says he was excited for Samara to join him to his hometown of Yeonggwang in Korea, but also concerned.

"It was another adventure to me, because before meeting Samara I was looking after [just myself], but suddenly I had to look after me and a foreigner girl," he says.

"I felt like she was giving up everything for me."

He needn't have worried. Despite having never travelled overseas, Samara fit right in.

"She liked my family and Korean culture, food, internet speed … and she looked after herself very well, so I didn't need to worry about her."

The couple were busy making "beautiful memories", he says, unsuspecting of what life-changing news was on the way.

Samara visited a local doctor with Uram when she couldn't shake what seemed like a vomiting bug.

"There was no thought it my mind that I was pregnant. I thought I could be sick again," she says.

Yet sitting with a doctor who spoke no English and had "probably never examined a Westerner before", Samara was told through Uram's translation that she was pregnant.

"It's not a single baby, 'Look — one, two, three'," Uram laughs recalling the first ultrasound. "[I thought] what? Please stop counting."

Once the shock wore off, the couple agreed they would make it work.

"It was pretty obvious we had to go back to Australia for healthcare and support," Samara says.

That was a blessing, according to Uram, who says while "being with who is more important than being at where", he was glad to return to Australia.

"I really didn't want to leave Australia because of beautiful nature and peaceful lifestyle."

ABC Life in your inbox Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Life each week Your information is handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement Email address Subscribe

Raising three babies at once

Uram has recently gone back to work as a kitchen hand. ( ABC Life: Jed Cooper )

Samara had never held a baby before her own, and recalls how tiny her daughter and two sons were when placed in her arms after arriving earlier than their due date.

"It's such pressure holding something that's so little and so beautiful. It was the first time I had ever held babies," she says.

"When we first got the babies home I think me and Uram were in complete shock. But it was a feeling like nothing else in the world."

Today, she says "life is very chaotic, with a lot of purpose and love".

"Uram has kind of been my rock; very patient with me and the babies. He does most of the diaper changes and helps me out with all the baby needs.

"I'm grateful for any challenges I've had to go through, because it's brought me here now."

Uram, who was a full-time parent alongside Samara before recently returning to work as a kitchenhand, says it's a big job.

"Every day I'm trying to think positively … when babies are smiling or giggling I can forget that I'm tired."