South Korean Foreign Ministry's YouTube channel 'KOREAZ' hits 1 million subscribers

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is celebrating a significant milestone as its YouTube channel, "KOREAZ," has surpassed 1 million subscribers. The channel, launched in 2021, received a coveted Gold Play Button from YouTube in recognition of its achievement.

"KOREAZ" (@mofakoreaz) now boasts 1.08 million subscribers, according to an announcement on Wednesday. The channel aims to inform global viewers about South Korea's foreign policy and its overseas diplomatic missions. It also engages audiences by featuring K-pop idols discussing Korean culture, blending diplomacy with popular appeal.

The ministry attributes this success to a combination of factors, including "active summit diplomacy" and South Korea's "rising status in international society," which have coincided with a growing global fascination with Korean culture. This achievement follows the channel's earlier success in reaching 100,000 subscribers just two and a half years ago in November 2023.

"KOREAZ" is now the second-highest-ranking English-language YouTube channel operated by a Korean government or public institution. It trails only the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "Visit Korea" channel, which has amassed 1.28 million subscribers.

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We see this as the result of active summit diplomacy [by the Lee Jae Myung administration] and Korea’s rising status in international society coalescing with growing interest in Korean culture across the world.