Live Broadcast Throughout the Dawn... Protest with Supporters
Top 1-5 Revenue Earners on Tally Sites
On the morning of the 3rd, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) attempted to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, while in front of the presidential residence, famous conservative YouTubers conducted a 'live broadcast.'
Among the supporters who staged a sit-in chanting slogans such as "Arrest warrant null and void," tension was evident, but paradoxically, the conservative YouTube channels experienced a 'boom.' With a flood of paid donations, the top 1 to 5 ranks in the domestic Super Chat (paid chat message feature) donations on that day were all occupied by political YouTubers.
Conservative YouTubers Who Camped Out in Front of the Residence All Night
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency announced that it will execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of being the ringleader of insurrection and abuse of authority, before its expiration date on the 6th. On the 2nd, supporters were lying down or sitting in front of the main gate of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
In front of the presidential residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, it is estimated that supporters of President Yoon gathered from early dawn. They started an 'overnight sit-in' before sunrise, warming their hands and feet with hot packs and staving off hunger with ramen, holding their positions until dawn.
Famous conservative YouTube channels set up cameras at the protest site and conducted live broadcasts for several hours. These well-known conservative YouTube channels attracted high interest, recording real-time viewers in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 even after 8 a.m.
Tension lingered among the supporters. The chat window was flooded with slogans such as "Arrest warrant invalid," "Oppose impeachment," and "Protect the president against the PCC." After reports emerged that the PCC arrest team was approaching the residence after 7 a.m., a pessimistic atmosphere became apparent. Messages poured in saying, "It's all over now," "Who would open the main gate so easily," "What's the point of just holding the microphone here," "Go and block them with your bodies," and "The security office must be patriotic."
The Other Side of Political Turmoil... YouTube Business in 'Boom'
The sit-in by some supporters trying to block the PCC arrest team's entry seems to have failed. However, paradoxically, the conservative YouTube channels that live-streamed the situation on that day are expected to experience a 'boom.' Supporters who stayed awake all night watching the situation are donating through 'paid Super Chats.'
According to 'Playboard,' a real-time YouTuber information aggregation site, as of the 3rd, the top 1 to 5 Super Chat rankings are all conservative YouTubers. All of them conducted live broadcasts on-site throughout the early morning, and the cumulative amount collected through Super Chats over several hours ranges from at least 2 million KRW to around 7.5 million KRW.
On the afternoon of the 2nd, the third day since the arrest warrant was issued for President Yoon Seok-yeol, police are dispersing supporters of President Yoon lying on the road in front of the main gate of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
In fact, since the 'martial law incident' at the end of last year, political YouTube channels, regardless of conservative or progressive, have mostly experienced a boom. The number of subscribers and views for political specialty channels has increased significantly, and accordingly, Super Chat income and top-viewed ad rankings have been dominated by political YouTube channels.
There are concerns that rapidly growing YouTube channels exert considerable influence on the political sphere. On 'Humility is Difficult News Factory,' operated by YouTuber Kim Eo-jun, it is common for prominent opposition figures to appear.
Some politicians also open their own YouTube channels. For example, Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, reportedly operated 'Kim Moon-soo TV' from 2019 to 2022, declaring business revenue totaling 509.48 million KRW, which sparked controversy. The channel was closed in October 2022.
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