Chungju TV Director Kim Seon-tae Resigns, Sparking Subscriber Drop and Speculation

Kim Seon-tae, the director credited with the success of Chungju TV, a popular YouTube channel run by the city of Chungju in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, announced his resignation on February 18, 2026. The announcement has prompted a rapid decline in the channel’s subscriber count and fueled speculation about the reasons behind his departure.

Farewell Announcement and Rapid Subscriber Loss

Director Kim announced his departure in a 36-second video titled ‘Last Greetings’ posted on Chungju TV on February 13, 2026, expressing gratitude for his seven years with the channel. He stated, “The seven years I spent with you were the happiest times of my life,” and wished continued success for Chungju City.

The response from viewers was overwhelmingly positive, with comments praising his perform and wishing him well. However, the announcement coincided with a significant drop in subscribers. As of February 12, 2026, Chungju TV had 975,000 subscribers. By February 16, that number fell to 800,000, and further declined to 754,000 by February 18, representing a loss of approximately 220,000 subscribers in just six days.

Rise to Prominence and Recognition

Chungju TV, launched in April 2019, gained widespread popularity through its creative content, including parodies, makeup tutorials featuring the panda Fu Bao, and collaborations with celebrities. A notable example is the “Civil servant coffin dance” video released in May 2020, which promoted social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and garnered 11.16 million views. Recently, actor Park Jung-min was appointed as a public relations ambassador for Chungju City through a collaboration with Chungju TV.

Director Kim’s contributions were recognized with a promotion to level 6 in personnel management in January 2024, a remarkably fast advancement from his initial level 9 appointment in 2016, typically taking around 15 years.

Speculation and Official Statements

The sudden resignation sparked numerous theories among netizens. Speculation ranged from limitations within the city’s organizational culture to burnout and interpersonal conflicts. Some suggested the departure was linked to the recent resignation of Chungju Mayor Cho Gil-hyung, who had been a strong supporter of Director Kim.

Addressing these rumors, Director Kim stated on February 16, 2026, to the Chungju TV community that reports of internal conflict, including “bullying theories,” were untrue. He explained that his decision was based on achieving personal goals and seeking modern challenges, and was not due to disagreements with any individual or organization. He expressed gratitude to his colleagues and the citizens of Chungju.

A representative from the Chungju City public relations office confirmed that Director Kim had expressed a desire to pursue new opportunities. They acknowledged the city’s efforts to retain him but recognized the limitations of offering compensation comparable to that of a private company, stating their expectation for his future success.

Future Plans

Director Kim indicated he will grab a break to explore new challenges and will announce his future career path once it is decided. Chungju City plans to formally accept his resignation at the end of February 2026.