KIM Suntae

YouTube specialist, Chungju City

KIM Suntae
Times of the Remarks 2024. 11. 12. 11:20-11:45
Title How Desperation Can Drive Innovation in Public Administration: The Quest of “Chungju Man”

KIM Suntae became a civil servant of Chungju City Government in 2016. In 2019, he launched the official Chungju City YouTube channel, taking on the persona called “Chungju Man.” Thanks to his activities as Chungju Man, the Chungju YouTube channel is the most followed among all local government bodies in Korea, with 750,000 subscribers, and the most well-known recent example of government innovation.


[Session Title and Description]

How Desperation Can Drive Innovation in Public Administration: The Quest of “Chungju Man”

KIM Suntae, also known as “Chungju Man,” is probably the most famous public servant in Korea today, with his YouTube channel recording an average one million views per video, not to mention over 1,000 comments, and ranking first among all local government YouTube channels. He humbly gives the credit for his success to the Chungju mayor, saying, “I was just doing what I was told.” But he didn’t become an acclaimed PR genius without first engaging in a lot of thoughtful deliberation.

“Whether it’s attracting tourists or investment, the first step is getting people to come here in the first place. It was an attempt made out of desperation.”

The second biggest city in Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Chungju was officially categorized as being at risk for extinction in 2022. When compared with other countries, Chungju’s situation might seem less severe, but it faces the same threat of depopulation as other small-to-mid-sized cities outside the metropolitan area. Kim Suntae has made a name for himself, but his journey to his current success began with the simple desire to contribute in a meaningful way to the place he calls home. In this session, we will hear his story, including the struggles and the challenges, as well as the insights he gained along the way.