충주시 등 4개 지역 공무원 '아는 형님' 출연
'충주맨' 퇴사 후 구독자 22만 명 감소 고백
'추노' 패러디로 하락세 멈추고 반등 성공
'충주맨' 퇴사 후 구독자 22만 명 감소 고백
'추노' 패러디로 하락세 멈추고 반등 성공
On the latest episode of JTBC's 'Knowing Bros,' aired on the 21st, the show featured a special segment on 'Regional Promotion Officials' with guests Jeong Gyeo-woon from Yangju, Lee So-hee from Nam-gu, Ulsan, Park Ji-soo from Gunsan, and Choi Ji-ho from Chungju.
Kang Ho-dong questioned the identity of the four officials, asking, "Are you YouTubers or government officials?" Lee So-hee clarified, "I appear on YouTube, but I am a government official."
The four regional promotion officials expressed their ambition to become the 'second Chungju Man.' Park Ji-soo described Chungju Man as a 'god-like figure,' while Choi Ji-ho, his successor, candidly shared, "I inherited the crown, but it's so heavy that I feel like my neck might break soon."
How Choi Ji-ho Prevented a Mass Subscriber Exodus After 'Chungju Man' Resigned
Following the resignation of the original 'Chungju Man,' Kim Seon-tae, approximately 220,000 subscribers left the channel. Choi Ji-ho recounted, "It wasn't just a few; it felt like the entire population of Chungju left. Watching the channel we built collapse was like being on the edge of a cliff."
In response, Choi Ji-ho created a parody of 'Chuno.' He explained, "The algorithm suggested 'Chuno,' and it felt like my situation. I filmed it alone in costume. I was emotional at the time, but the positive response was a relief. After posting the video, the decline stopped, and subscribers increased to 780,000."
Meanwhile, Kim Seon-tae's new YouTube channel surpassed one million subscribers in just three days. Choi Ji-ho humorously commented, "Seon-tae, my Seon-tae," and added, "I'm not sure what to call him now that he's no longer my team leader. Should I call him Mr. Kim Seon-tae?" causing laughter among the cast.
Messages to the Original 'Chungju Man' from Aspiring Successors
Jeong Gyeo-woon from Yangju, aspiring to be the 'second Chungju Man,' admitted, "Chungju Man's resignation was bittersweet. Sorry to Ji-ho, but I'm aiming for the throne," while noting, "Subscribers increased by about 5,000 afterward."
The four officials each had a message for Kim Seon-tae. Park Ji-soo expressed envy, asking, "Are you happy? Is it nice to resign alone and hit it big?" Lee So-hee wondered, "Why did you grow the government YouTube channel so much?"
Jeong Gyeo-woon added, "Is it warm outside? Seeing the subscriber count rise makes me envious," and Choi Ji-ho humorously lamented, "Why didn't you take responsibility for my marriage?" eliciting laughter.
Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr