YouTuber Kim Seon-tae Pledges to Donate 30% of Earnings After Hitting 1 Million Subscribers

Kim Seon-tae, known as 'Chungju Man,' has announced his intention to donate 30% of his earnings.

On October 6, Kim Seon-tae's YouTube channel released a video titled 'Thank You for 1 Million Subscribers.'

Kim, who previously managed the official YouTube channel for Chungju City and was known as 'Chungju Man,' left his public service position and launched his personal channel on October 3. His channel has already surpassed 1.16 million subscribers.

In the video, Kim expressed his gratitude for reaching 1 million subscribers. Speaking from his bed, he said, "I will approach my subscribers with the utmost humility, always keeping them in high regard and maintaining a humble attitude."

Regarding the rapid growth of his channel, Kim noted, "I've heard that the speed at which my subscriber count is increasing is quite fast. Only a few, like Jennie and Baek Jong-won, have surpassed 700,000 subscribers at this pace."

Kim admitted, "I initially thought reaching around 300,000 subscribers by now would be great, but I didn't expect this level of success. The channel's success has been exhilarating, and I haven't been able to sleep much, only about four hours over two days."

He also revealed that he has received around 700 emails, including both advertising offers and messages of support. "I need to go through them carefully," he said.

Kim shared his future plans for the channel, stating, "I want to create a genuine promotional channel, promoting everything from people and animals to products, systems, public interests, and companies."

Kim emphasized his preference for working independently, saying, "I seem to shine when I'm alone. I plan to focus more on YouTube than broadcasting." He intends to continue his activities in Chungju but left open the possibility of future changes.

Kim declared, "I will allocate 70% of my YouTube earnings after expenses for myself and donate the remaining 30%. I plan to create content around regular donations, whether monthly or quarterly."

However, he cautioned against overemphasizing the significance of his donations, stating, "If I do it too often, it feels a bit self-indulgent. While I do want to contribute to society, I'm not a saint. It's more about my peace of mind."

In conclusion, Kim acknowledged the support he received from Chungju City, saying, "I owe a lot to Chungju City and its taxpayers. I was fortunate to reach 1 million subscribers, but I will remain humble and continue to create content with humility."

Kim Seon-tae, a former public official, joined the civil service as a level 9 officer in 2016 and gained attention with Chungju City's official YouTube channel, ChungTV, rising to level 6 in just three years. He recently resigned to start his personal YouTube channel, citing a desire to earn more money. He is also set to appear on MBC's 'Radio Star.'

By Eun Jung Kim, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr