Former Public Official Kim Sun-tae's YouTube Channel Surpasses 1 Million Subscribers in Just Two Days

Kim Sun-tae, widely known as 'Chungju Man', has become the talk of the town after his personal YouTube channel surpassed 1 million subscribers just two days after its launch.

On October 3rd, Kim Sun-tae, the former public relations officer of Chungju City, launched his YouTube channel under his own name, 'Kim Sun-tae', and released his first video. The channel quickly gained traction, reaching over 1 million subscribers by 7 PM on October 5th, earning him the coveted Gold Play Button.

Currently, the channel features a single video, approximately two minutes long, in which Kim candidly discusses his departure from public service and his reasons for starting a YouTube career. The video has garnered over 6 million views in just two days, reflecting the high level of interest.

The channel's growth has been remarkable. It surpassed 500,000 subscribers on the day of its launch and exceeded 800,000 the following day, quickly overtaking the official Chungju City YouTube channel, which has around 770,000 subscribers.

In his first video, Kim explained his decision to leave public service, stating, "The main reason was to earn more money. While it's a new challenge, ultimately, it's about seeking better opportunities." He added, "If I don't do it now, it might be harder to take on such challenges as I get older. I want to establish myself as a YouTuber."

Kim gained significant popularity as a public relations officer for Chungju City, earning the nickname 'Chungju Man'. He was instrumental in planning, appearing in, filming, and editing content for the city's YouTube channel 'ChungTV', growing its subscriber base to approximately 900,000, making it a successful case study in municipal YouTube promotion.

However, the launch of his personal channel has not been without controversy. On October 4th, a post titled "Kim Sun-tae from Chungju is a bit heartless" appeared on the anonymous workplace community Blind. The author expressed disappointment, saying, "If he's starting a new promotional YouTube, he should have brought his team along. With 800,000 subscribers, it could become a company."

As the post gained attention, online users offered counterarguments. Some commented, "Are you suggesting he should have made his colleagues quit their jobs too?" and "How could he bring employees along when it's uncertain if the venture will succeed?"

Kim Sun-tae announced his resignation from his position as Chungju City's public relations officer in February, drawing significant attention. As he embarks on a new journey through his personal YouTube channel, there is keen interest in his future endeavors.

Reported by Ji-ye Choi, TenAsia wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr