Civil servant-turned-YouTube icon ‘Chungjuman’ steps down from city post

Kim Sun-tae, a popular YouTuber and civil servant better known as “Chungjuman,” speaks in a video released on Oct. 14, 2025, celebrating the Chungju city YouTube channel reaching 900,000 subscribers. Captured from Chungju's YouTube channel

Kim Sun-tae, a star civil servant with the Chungju city government who rose to nationwide fame as the face of the city’s YouTube channel “Chung TV,” has submitted his resignation, city officials said on Friday.

According to the city, Kim turned in his resignation to the human resources department and began extended leave immediately afterward.

“The resignation has not yet been formally processed,” a city official said. “However, since he has expressed his intention to step down, the matter will be handled in due course.”

Kim, widely known by his nickname "Chungjuman," gained popularity through his role in producing and appearing in the city’s promotional YouTube content. With his unique sense of humor and refreshing production style, he spearheaded a shift in how local governments communicate with the public, moving away from traditional press releases toward engaging, social media-driven storytelling.

Residents and viewers began to associate the city with experimental digital content, rather than thinking of it simply a provincial town with a population just over 200,000. His videos, often self-deprecating and character-driven, were frequently cited as a model for how local governments can connect with younger generations online.

Under his direction, Chungju’s official YouTube channel expanded its reach with short-form videos characterized by a deliberate low-quality aesthetic and dynamic editing. The channel now has over 970,000 subscribers, making it one of the most successful municipal media channels in the country.

Since his debut in city public relations in 2016, Kim has become a rare celebrity among civil servants. His creative approach earned him rapid promotions, becoming a Grade 6 official within seven years, and an appointment as the head of the city's new media team last year.

Korea has a nine level hierarchy for civil servants, with Grade 1 at the top. Grade 6 is solidly mid-career, and usually takes well over a decade of steady service and performance evaluations to reach.

Kim’s popularity has extended beyond the municipality. He has appeared on several TV programs such as “Game of Blood 3,” “Omniscient Interfering View” and “Radio Star,” and was named “Influencer of the Year” at the 2024 Brand of the Year Awards.

The reasons for his resignation and his next steps have not been disclosed.