Korea's political YouTubers earn massive profit out of impeachment crises

By Lee Hae-rin

Political YouTubers here have enjoyed a massive profit from the political turmoil that has continued for over 100 days since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

According to YouTube analytics platform Playboard on Sunday, @tubeshin, a conservative political channel with 1.62 million subscribers, earned some 310 million won ($211,477) between December and February, topping Korean YouTube channels in Super Chat revenue.

The progressive channel run by left-wing commentator Kim Ou-joon, @gyeomsonisnothing, also earned about 240 million won during the same period, followed by conservative channels @groundc and @hongtv with about 140 million won and 130 million won, respectively.

While it is rare for even top Korean YouTubers to earn more than 100 million won per month in cash donations, YouTube channels broadcasting live coverage of protests and legal developments have massively monetized the public’s growing interest in political crises.

Last December, @gyeomsonisnothing earned about 150 million after Kim attended the National Assembly in December and drew attention for claiming that he received a report about an order to assassinate Han Dong-hoon, then-leader of the ruling People Power Party.

In January, when Yoon was arrested, @tubeshin, which consistently posted real-time videos near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, earned about 160 million won through Super Chat from pro-Yoon supporters.

Other famous channels, such as the far-right anti-feminist @new_manpower, which received limited monetization penalties from YouTube for violating creator guidelines were not ranked. However, they are expected to have also earned more from the ongoing political turmoil since most political YouTubers encourage individual donations by displaying their bank account numbers on videos.

Some lesser-known YouTubers also showed notable performances.

A progressive channel dubbed Cat News received 90 million won in Super Chat revenue in January alone after live broadcasting the grounds of the presidential residence with a telephoto lens while investigation authorities attempted to arrest Yoon.

It is estimated that @RedOUTT, which aired footage of himself breaking into the Seoul Western District Court and being arrested by the police in January, also earned about 50 million won.

Meanwhile, political YouTubers on both sides have been increasingly live broadcasting themselves near the Constitutional Court swearing at the other side. Some have broadcast footage of disrupting student-led impeachment rallies on the university campuses and going on a rampage.

Yoo Hyun-jae, professor of media communications at Sogang University, expressed concern that those who enjoy attention and profit from social conflicts could continue to incite hatred and escalate clashes.

"Our society is paying the price for neglecting them," he said. "We need to overhaul laws and systems so that those in such lawless zones can also be held accountable."