A number of popular South Korea-based foreign YouTubers were brought together on Wednesday at Google’s Campus Seoul for an event during which content creators on YouTube shared their stories and tips for making online videos. (Image: YouTube)
SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – YouTubers with international backgrounds are taking the South Korean online video scene by storm, covering a wide range of topics including food, travel, beauty, and even content for children.
Video streaming channels hosted by people from different countries first gained popularity focusing on their life in South Korea, but the topics have expanded to other areas over the last few years, even spawning a number of TV programs depicting the country through the eyes of foreign nationals.
A number of popular South Korea-based foreign YouTubers were brought together on Wednesday at Google’s Campus Seoul for an event during which content creators on YouTube shared their stories and tips for making online videos.
Whitney Bae, an American YouTuber who produces videos with a focus on beauty, Korean food, and K-pop, was among the three speakers at the event yesterday.
Bae, who learned Korean with friends in the U.S., moved to South Korea after graduating from university.
She now boasts over 350,000 subscribers and her videos have been viewed more than 50 million times.
“At first, I focused on cultural differences between South Korean and the U.S., but now I cover meokbang, beauty, and even content for children. I find young fans who recognize and greet me on the street so endearing. They make me feel like I’m their actual sister,” said Bae.
Emil Price from the U.K. started off his YouTube career as a side job, making English educational content, before he decided to go all-in.
Price says the key to the hearts of South Korean viewers was food, as South Koreans seem to love food content.
When there is no food in the thumbnail, views usually drop, according to the British YouTuber, while subtitles are important for viewers whose first language isn’t English.
Another YouTuber going by the alias 2hearts1seoul, whose real name is Lee Kyu-ho, produces content heavily focused on married life with his Canadian wife Sarah.
YouTubers with international backgrounds are taking the South Korean online video scene by storm, covering a wide range of topics including food, travel, beauty, and even content for children. (Image: YouTube)
Lee began his YouTube channel to assure his parents that he’s doing well abroad, but it now has a viewership of over 110,000 subscribers.
Lee says his channel focuses on everyday life as an international couple in South Korea, introducing less well-known areas, cultures and food to foreigners.
All of three YouTubers say that despite earning less than before, doing what they enjoy has made them happier.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
