The key figure of 'Chungju City's YouTube Legend', Team Leader Kim Seon-tae, is leaving public service after 9 years.
Kim Seon-tae, the 'Chungju Man' and head of the New Media Team, who set an unprecedented record as the number one local government YouTube subscriber in the country, has submitted his resignation to the Chungju City Hall, where he has built strong ties. This decision comes 7 years after launching the official Chungju City YouTube channel 'ChungTV' and 9 years after entering public service.
According to Chungju City on the 13th, Team Leader Kim has confirmed his retirement at the end of this month. He has effectively stopped working since the 12th, using up his remaining annual leave. The news of his resignation, which came without warning, has caused a significant stir not only within Chungju City but also among the citizens and subscribers who supported him.
The reason for resignation is 'realistic compensation' and 'burnout'
While Team Leader Kim did not specify the exact reasons for his resignation, industry insiders cite the limitations of the rigid public servant compensation system and accumulated fatigue as the main causes. In a past broadcast interview, he expressed his disappointment about the reality of public servant wages, stating, "Even after 10 years as a public servant, my pre-tax salary is only around 57 million won, including various allowances."
Despite receiving attractive salary offers from large corporations, he maintained his position for the public good, but it is widely believed that he found it difficult to overcome the gap between his value as an influencer and the reality of his treatment.
Additionally, burnout from the 'one-person production system', where he was responsible for everything from planning to filming and editing, is also cited as a decisive factor. The pressure to produce new content every week and the fatigue within the conservative public servant organization likely took a toll on him. Although he made headlines by rapidly advancing to level 6 by the end of 2023, it seems that further growth within the structural limitations was hard to expect.
"What will happen to Chungju City's YouTube now"... Mixed Reactions
As news of his resignation spread, netizens showed mixed reactions. In online communities, supportive messages poured in, such as "Finally gained freedom" and "It’s a miracle that he lasted this long with that ability." On the other hand, there are also voices expressing concern about the channel's survival, saying, "Can Chungju City's YouTube continue without the Chungju Man?" and "The burden on the successor will be immense."
A Chungju City official stated, "It seems that there will inevitably be disruptions in YouTube operations for the time being," and expressed their commitment to finding a successor. It is expected that Team Leader Kim will take a break after retirement and seek new activities as a freelance creator or broadcaster.
