YouTube holds third FanFest in Korea

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Lifestyle

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 18:56

YouTube holds third FanFest in Korea

Posted : 2016-09-06 16:47

Updated : 2016-09-06 17:30

Local YouTube creators pose at the main stage of YouTube FanFest Korea 2016 held in Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, Sept. 3. / Courtesy of YouTube

By Kim Jae-heun

An American video-sharing website YouTube held it third FanFest event in Korea, last Saturday, at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul inviting 12 star YouTubers, or so-called "Creators," to perform special fan meeting stages for their 2,000 fans gathered at the venue.

The number of visitors at the FanFest doubled compared to that of last year, showing the growing fandom of local YouTubers' and their distinctive contents in music, game and beauty.

The event also provided a chance for the creators and fans to communicate while holding "Creator Camp" to teach rookie YouTubers know-how in creating quality contents.

The popular YouTuber Na Dong-hyun, who has 1.27 million people subscribing his channel using the alias "The Great Library," staged the main show alongside Deeva Jessica, another YouTuber teaching English online, as an emcee. Other creators like Ddotty, SSIN and JuNCurryAhn held individual booth at the venue to meet their fans while performing comedy conte.

Musical actress-turned-YouTuber Bubble Dia and women dance team Waveya showed off their singing and dancing skills.

At the end of the event, creators with over a million subscribers on their channel received "Gold Play Button" Award.

The first YouTube FanFest in Asia took place in Singapore three years ago, bringing the idea of America's Vidcon where YouTubers share their experience and knowledge while meeting their fans. The festival grew up hold its' event in 10 countries around the world.

YouTube has developed into an open community where talented local creators communicate with their fans and created an ecosystem for people with potential to build their hobby into a job as content creator online.

"When I created what I like, subscribers also liked it," said 40-year old YouTube creator Kim Hak, or Red Dokkebi. "It hasn't been long that I started YouTube and there aren't many contents for people in my age to watch, so I started making contents for adults."

Kim has been uploading various contents for a year about newly launched movie be it a review or anything related to the film like materials used in the screen.

jhkim@ktimes.com