Controversy Surrounds 'Chungju Man' Kim Seon-tae's Resignation Amid Bullying Allegations

Kim Seon-tae, known as 'Chungju Man' for leading Chungju City's official channel to 1 million subscribers, has submitted his resignation after a decade in public service. Allegations of workplace bullying have surfaced, prompting an investigation.

According to reports, multiple complaints were filed through the National Sinmungo, urging an investigation into potential bullying against Kim. Chungju City's audit office investigated the claims but found no evidence of collective harassment.

Kim recently submitted his resignation and is currently using his remaining leave. On October 15, a post titled 'I am a former Chungju City official' appeared online, claiming that jealousy and envy were rampant within the organization. The post included a screenshot suggesting that searching for Kim's name on the Chungju website in 2024 would yield negative related searches.

Speculation arose online that Kim left due to jealousy and envy within the public sector. Some believe his departure is linked to the resignation of former Chungju Mayor Jo Gil-hyeong. A video from January 2022 on the YouTube channel 'Imyeonsoda' featuring Kim resurfaced, where he commented on the potential for 'massacres' following changes in personnel authority.

Additionally, after announcing his resignation, Kim reportedly met with Kang Hoon-sik, the Presidential Chief of Staff, fueling rumors of a potential job offer from the Blue House.

Reporter: Soo-min Lee, Ten Asia danbilee19@tenasia.co.kr