OWL Magazine Korea

“Na Dong-hyun: The Deity of YouTube”

Unlike in the past, the era where the term “1-person media” feels awkward has arrived. Initially, when the term “1-person media” first emerged, it was unfamiliar and awkward. However, since YouTube completely engulfed South Korea, the term “1-person media” doesn’t sound strange anymore.

Nowadays, there are cases where individuals who are active on YouTube are affiliated with companies that manage creators. These companies, called MCNs, are planning companies that specialize in managing 1-person media.

“The Present South Korea Where 1-person Media Is Established”

Nowadays, people with a large number of subscribers on YouTube enjoy popularity comparable to celebrities. Some even transition from YouTube to broadcasting based on their popularity.

Conversely, stories abound about celebrities or pro gamers entering YouTube and earning more revenue than when working at broadcasting stations.

Moreover, creators on YouTube earn considerable profits. Even those with fewer than several million subscribers earn much more than the average person would expect. Some even hire employees and grow their channels into companies.

“Daedo Seogwan: A Pioneer of 1-person Media”

Among them, YouTuber using the pseudonym “Daedo Seogwan” can be considered a pioneer of 1-person media. He has been active in 1-person media since the early days, helping to popularize concepts like YouTube, streaming, and 1-person media in society.

Since 2002, he has been a long-standing internet broadcaster, considered a first-generation internet broadcaster. He is also credited with establishing a profit system that integrates current streaming platforms like YouTube.

In the past, platforms like AfreecaTV for unedited live streaming and YouTube for uploaded edited videos were considered separate domains. However, in 2013, when Daedo Seogwan uploaded edited videos from live broadcasts to YouTube and earned significant revenue, many streamers began editing live broadcasts and uploading them to YouTube.

“1-person Media, The Deity of YouTube”

Daedo Seogwan, who can be considered a pioneer of 1-person media, eventually published a book. The title is “The Deity of YouTube.”

The book starts with his struggles when he first started internet broadcasting alone and details how he overcame difficulties to reach his current position. It also addresses the revenue, which many are curious about. At the time of writing, he mentioned earning around 40 million won per month from YouTube.

“His Experiences Running 1-person Media”

The story of Na Dong-hyun, who uses the alias Daedo Seogwan, begins when he left a large company to enter the online broadcasting market. He candidly discusses the struggles he faced in the early days of solo broadcasting and introduces various episodes that occurred during his broadcasts. He also straightforwardly explains how he grew his channel into a beloved broadcaster among the public.

Additionally, the book covers how to plan and operate content on YouTube to be successful. However, the majority of the content revolves around his personal experiences rather than the know-how of content planning.

“The Revenue Structure of 1-person Media”

The book also delves into the revenue structure of 1-person media, which many are curious about and worried about before starting professional 1-person media. It provides clear explanations on this topic.

The revenue structure of 1-person media introduced in the book includes:

  1. Donations
  2. Google AdSense revenue
  3. Direct contracts with advertisers (content production fees)

According to the book, channels like Daedo Seogwan’s earn a significant portion of their revenue from Google AdSense and direct contracts with advertisers. Collectively, this generates approximately 40 million won in revenue per month.

“Creating Content That Survives on YouTube”

The book also lightly touches on how to create and operate content that can survive on YouTube.

The best approach is to consistently upload videos within one major theme. It is recommended to prioritize content in a field that one enjoys. This is because consistently creating content in an area of personal interest makes it easier to maintain progress.

Once the channel is established, it’s good to upload videos steadily, one or two per week, and continue operating for 1-2 years. It’s said that you need to maintain consistency for 1-2 years to gain a sense of direction and determine whether to continue.

For those who have heard stories about YouTubers earning significant profits and have contemplated becoming full-time YouTubers, it might be worth considering first learning about the experiences of someone who has made a mark as a content creator on YouTube.

“Daedo Seogwan: The Deity of YouTube”