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.

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.

Source: Korea Times News