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Warm potluck marks Howdy Korea's Silver Button milestone
Creators, contributors and guests cut a cake made up of small Korean-style rice cakes during "Howdy Korea Potluck Party" in Seoul's Mapo District, Thursday, celebrating the Korea Times' YouTube channel's win of the Silver Button for surpassing 100,000 subscribers. Korea Times photo by Ha Il, Lee Yun-seo
By Pyo Kyung-min
Inside a softly lit party room in Seoul's Mapo District on Thursday evening, steaming Korean dishes, bursts of laughter and a spirited chorus of "Howdy Korea!" set the tone for a warm celebration.
Creators and contributors to The Korea Times' YouTube channel, Howdy Korea, gathered for what felt less like a formal event and more like a reunion, sharing homemade dishes, chatting in Korean and English and taking part in lighthearted activities to mark the channel's newest milestone: receiving YouTube's Silver Button award.
Launched in July 2024, Howdy Korea has quickly built up a dedicated following by spotlighting Korean culture through approachable, fun and engaging storytelling. Its videos have introduced viewers from around the world to local topics and issues ranging from shamanism and traditional cuisine to face reading and multiculturalism, often featuring a rotating cast of scholars, expats and artists.
Several episodes have gone viral, helping the channel surpass 100,000 subscribers earlier this year.
A cake for Howdy Korea’s YouTube Silver Button milestone is displayed during the channel’s potluck celebration in Mapo District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Ha Il, Lee Yun-seo
That momentum paved the way for Thursday’s gathering, where the on-screen warmth carried effortlessly into real life.
Guests filtered in shortly after 6 p.m., taking their seats at long tables stocked with OB-sponsored beer and an ever-growing spread of homemade dishes. Current host Joel Jay Lane kicked off the evening as emcee, welcoming the familiar faces who have shaped the channel’s identity.
By 7 p.m., The Korea Times' President-Publisher Oh Young-jin and Managing Director of Content and Business Planning Kim Jae-kyoung arrived to applause.
In his congratulatory remarks, Oh thanked the staff and creators for reaching the milestone so quickly.
"Our golden rule is that once you build a connection with us, you cannot escape, not in this lifetime," he told the crowd, eliciting chuckles. "I hope this bond continues and becomes a chance for all of us to grow together."
Kim Jae-kyoung, The Korea Times' managing director of content and business planning, joins a doljabi ceremony during the Howdy Korea Potluck Party at Mapo District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Ha Il, Lee Yun-seo
That energy flowed straight into the cake-cutting ceremony. At the center of the table sat a rice-cake cake, and as hands stacked atop one another, the room burst into a spirited “Howdy Korea!” as phones lit up from every corner.
The celebration then took a playful turn when Kim Jae-kyoung joined in a "doljabi" ceremony, a Korean first-birthday tradition in which a child selects an object believed to hint at their future. Wearing an adorable unicorn blindfold, he reached out and grabbed a light bulb, a choice symbolizing creative ideas ahead. The room burst into cheers.
Long tables were filled with dishes brought by attendees, creating a potluck feast that reflected Korea's culinary breadth. Jokbal (braised pig's trotters), braised seafood, potato pancakes, coriander kimchi and desserts lined the tables.
Among the most loved were Korean shaman Wicked Snow's homemade galbi-jjim (braised beef short ribs), chosen for its cultural symbolism and history as a dish served to honored guests. Face reader Kim Min-jung contributed sul-jjim, a seafood stew she said would help anyone nursing the evening's drinks.
Attendees mingle at the "Howdy Korea Potluck Party" held in Seoul's Mapo District, Thursday, celebrating Howdy Korea's win of YouTube’s Silver Button for surpassing 100,000 subscribers. Korea Times photo by Ha Il, Lee Yun-seo
On the other side, rows of Cass Fresh, Hanmac, Cass 0.0, Budweiser and Cass Lemon Squeeze were arranged alongside a cocktail station where guests mixed "Puppy Love," a bright, fruity drink perfect for the atmosphere.
As conversations flowed between English and Korean, guests shared reflections on their relationships with the channel.
The channel's former host, Kady from Austria, described the potluck as one of the most thoughtful gatherings she had seen in Korea.
"You do not usually see potlucks here. This was wonderful," she said. Having sat across from Joel, she added, "It was so fun. You are doing great, and it is lovely to watch."
Wicked Snow, whose latest video surpassed 243,000 views, wore a silver dress in honor of the milestone. She said she hopes the channel continues elevating Korean traditions and believes inviting well-known public figures will strengthen its momentum.
"I am thrilled for the channel's upcoming 2026," she said.
Howdy Korea's current channel host, Joel Jay Lane, left, takes a photo of shaman Wicked Snow, whose recent appearance on Howdy Korea drew over 243,000 views, during the channel’s Silver Button celebration in Mapo District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Ha Il, Lee Yun-seo
As the evening drew to a close, guests lingered over the last bites of galbi-jjim, posed for photos with silver mirror orbs and chatted beneath soft lights.
The celebration underscored that Howdy Korea's success has been built not only on subscriber numbers but on the relationships, curiosity and cross-cultural stories that bring its community together.
For Kim Jae-kyoung, the Silver Button marks an early but significant stage.
"Our goal is one million," he said. "This event should be a turning point and an opportunity to make the channel more ambitious and creative."
He added that once the channel reaches the 300,000 to 400,000 subscriber range, invitations to K-pop idols and celebrities might become possible, encouraging continued support for the channel.