Chungju Mayor Asks Former YouTuber Official if He'll Return After Controversy

YouTuber Kim Sun-tae, formerly known as 'Chungju Man' during his tenure as a Chungju city official, has posted a video reflecting a somber mood following public backlash over remarks made during a television appearance. Kim, who left his public service position in February to pursue content creation, appeared in a video with a disheveled appearance, sitting in a sparsely furnished room with an empty soju bottle nearby, stating, "I am lonely."

The controversy arose from Kim's participation in a YouTube variety show. In an episode released on May 29, he asked a guest, singer Wonie of the group Resene, to say a phrase in dialect: "Why is my story coming up in politics!" This prompted Wonie to utter the word "무섭노" (museopno), a dialectal expression that subsequently drew criticism for its alleged association with a controversial online community known for hate speech.

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I am lonely.

Following the criticism, which included accusations of harassing a junior idol group, Kim voluntarily withdrew from the show. The broadcasting station, KBS, also decided to cancel the scheduled broadcast of the episode.

In the wake of Kim's public display of distress, Chungju Mayor Lee Dong-seok commented on Kim's video, asking, "This is the new Chungju Mayor. Would you consider returning to Chungju City Hall?" This question has sparked considerable online discussion, with netizens speculating about a potential return to public service for Kim, who gained popularity for his engaging content as 'Chungju Man' on the city's YouTube channel.

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This is the new Chungju Mayor. Would you consider returning to Chungju City Hall?