On February 13, 2026, the city of Chungju found itself at the center of a media whirlwind, as Kim Seon-tae—better known to hundreds of thousands of fans as "Chungju Man"—officially announced his resignation from public office. For nearly a decade, Kim had served as a civil servant in Chungju, and for the last seven years, he transformed the city’s approach to public engagement through the wildly popular YouTube channel, "ChungTV." With a subscriber base just shy of one million, Kim’s unique blend of offbeat humor and creative video content made him a household name in Korea, and a trailblazer among public sector influencers.
Kim’s departure, which takes effect at the end of February, was anything but ordinary. According to Xportsnews, Kim shared a heartfelt farewell video titled "Last Greeting" on the official Chungju YouTube channel. In the video, he reflected on his journey: “After 10 years in public service and 7 years living as Chungju Man, I’m here to say goodbye. Any small success I had was thanks to your support. The seven years I spent with you were the happiest of my life.” He didn’t forget to thank the citizens of Chungju and his colleagues at city hall, expressing deep gratitude for their encouragement along the way.
But Kim’s resignation didn’t come out of the blue. Local politics have been swirling with speculation ever since former Chungju mayor Jo Gil-hyung stepped down just weeks earlier to pursue a bid for governor of North Chungcheong Province. The timing, as reported by Daejeon Ilbo and Gokorea, has led to rumors that Kim might be jumping from city hall to the campaign trail, possibly joining Jo’s election team as a key strategist or media advisor. After all, Kim had enjoyed rapid promotions and visible support during Jo’s tenure, and their professional relationship was no secret. Some local insiders even described it as a relationship of "mutual trust."
Still, Kim has publicly denied any immediate political ambitions. In statements relayed by city officials and reported by Daejeon Ilbo, Kim insisted he plans to focus on rest and childcare for the time being, with no specific future plans announced. “He said he has no special plans after leaving and will focus on his family and taking a break,” one city official noted, adding, “If he were to join Jo’s campaign, it would be a burden for both.”
Jo Gil-hyung, for his part, has also distanced himself from the speculation. In an interview with Media Taehee, Jo said, “This is the first I’ve heard of his resignation. He’s not joining me.” Jo did, however, express pride in having appointed Kim to head the city’s YouTube initiative in 2019, recalling, “I told them to let Kim run the YouTube team. For six months, nothing happened, so I had to nudge him along. I wish I could have retired after seeing him hit 1 million subscribers.” Jo went on to say, perhaps only half-joking, “If our party had sense, they’d want someone like him on the team.”
Kim’s rise was nothing short of remarkable. Born in 1987, he began managing Chungju’s YouTube content in 2018, quickly setting the channel apart with its “B-grade sensibility” and meme-driven, punchy editing. The channel’s subscriber count skyrocketed, reaching approximately 975,000 by early 2026. His efforts not only brought national attention to Chungju but also set a new standard for how local governments could engage with the public in the digital age. As Newsis and Segye Ilbo highlighted, Kim’s promotion to grade 6 at the end of 2023 was seen as a testament to his impact—he’d jumped up the ranks in just seven years, a rare feat in the public sector.
Kim’s on-screen persona was both playful and shrewd. He appeared on popular TV programs, including MBC’s "Radio Star" in December 2024, where he famously pledged to retire if the channel hit one million subscribers. Later, he clarified that "retirement" meant moving to a different department, not leaving Chungju altogether. On another show, "Hell Court," he staged a mock lawsuit against then-mayor Jo Gil-hyung for a special promotion—a stunt that only added to his public appeal.
Despite Kim’s denials of political motives, speculation persists. As Gokorea and Daejeon Ilbo reported, some in the local political sphere believe Kim’s media savvy and youth appeal would be a major asset to Jo’s campaign for governor, especially as conservative parties in Korea look to court younger voters. “As a civil servant, there are strict limits on political activity. He may have resigned to support Jo out of loyalty,” one political observer suggested. Others, however, see Kim’s departure as a natural next step, given his mentor’s own political moves.
Not everyone is pleased with the optics. Critics argue that a public servant leaving to support a political campaign blurs the line between public duty and personal allegiance, raising concerns about the use of public resources for private political gain. Some city officials and citizens expressed disappointment that the "Chungju Man" brand, built on public time and money, might become a personal asset in the political arena. “We cheered for him to work for the city, but is he just moving on to politics?” one resident was quoted as saying by Gokorea.
Meanwhile, Chungju City Hall faces a practical challenge. With Kim gone, officials are scrambling to find a suitable replacement to run "ChungTV." As one city spokesperson told Newsis, “His resignation was sudden and unexpected. We’re now searching for someone who can continue the channel’s success.” Given that much of the channel’s identity was tied to Kim’s personality and creative direction, it remains to be seen whether Chungju can maintain its digital momentum.
For now, Kim Seon-tae’s next steps remain a mystery. He has not responded to interview requests, and his only public remarks have emphasized gratitude and a desire for rest. Whether he will resurface in politics, media, or an entirely new field is anyone’s guess. What’s clear is that his departure marks the end of a chapter—not just for Chungju Man, but for the city’s approach to public engagement in the digital era.