PenNMike Reaches 2 Million Subscribers

Cheon Yeong-sik, CEO of PenNMike, expressed his feelings on maintaining the channel through numerous trials and tribulations over eight and a half long years since its launch. He stated, "It took eight and a half years. As those who know are aware, there were many trials. We overcame those hardships and protected PenN." He attributed the achievement to the subscribers. CEO Cheon emphasized that the channel's growth was entirely thanks to the support of its subscribers, expressing his gratitude.

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik cited the recruitment of talented individuals like writer Heo Hyun-jun, rather than his direct involvement in broadcasts, as a key to reaching 2 million subscribers. He said, "I think the secret is that I didn't directly broadcast, but instead brought in many excellent people like Heo Hyun-jun." He also mentioned PenNMike's experience of growing through two impeachment processes, analyzing that showing resilience in crisis left a positive impression on viewers.

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik characterized PenNMike's readers as extremely demanding and high-level. He explained that after observing readers for about 8 years, they immediately point out even slight inaccuracies in broadcast content and are not easily swayed by agitation. CEO Cheon believes that the high standards of these readers are precisely the key factor that has driven PenNMike's growth. He stated, "PenNMike's readers, whom I have observed for about 8 years, are extremely demanding and high-level. Just make a small mistake in a broadcast. They will immediately point out errors. And try to agitate them. They don't easily fall for agitation."

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik cited the YouTube revenue suspension as the most memorable hardship. He lamented that the prolonged 1 year and 2 months of revenue suspension was extremely difficult and painful. CEO Cheon recalled that he faced an extreme crisis, to the point of considering whether to completely shut down the YouTube business during the suspension period. He described it as the hardest time, fraught with uncertainty about when it would end and an inability to guarantee the future. He shared his feelings at the time, stating, "The revenue suspension lasted for a long time of 1 year and 2 months. It was extremely difficult and painful for 1 year and 2 months. I even considered whether I should close down the YouTube business, and since I didn't know when it would be lifted, and couldn't guarantee anything about the future, that was the hardest time..."

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik mentioned the 'election fraud debate' video as the broadcast achievement he was most proud of. This video achieved a record-breaking performance in YouTube broadcasting history, with 350,000 concurrent viewers and over 6 million total views. He expressed his feelings at the time, saying, "The election fraud debate set a record in our YouTube broadcasting history. Having done a broadcast that recorded 350,000 concurrent viewers and over 6 million total views was an incredibly proud experience." This achievement demonstrated PenNMike's ability to tackle important social issues and attract high viewer interest even during difficult times.

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik shared an anecdote about his health rapidly deteriorating during the YouTube monetization suspension in 2023. He recalled making great efforts and working tirelessly to resolve the revenue suspension issue. During that time, while attending a meeting related to the media, he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed during a break. He revealed that he had a close call, where people nearby called 911, and he was rushed to the hospital. CEO Cheon described the situation at the time, saying, "That was in 2023, the period when monetization was suspended. It was extremely difficult then, and I worked very hard, running around to try and resolve it. During a meeting, I suddenly lost all memory and collapsed during a break, and someone nearby called 911, and I went to the hospital once."

PenNMike showed a clear upward trend in subscribers starting from the April 2024 general election. CEO Cheon Yeong-sik stated that it took 6 years and 6 months to reach 1 million subscribers by August 2024. However, he explained that the channel achieved concentrated growth, taking only 2 years to go from 1 million to 2 million subscribers. He emphasized the recent explosive growth, saying, "We reached 1 million in August 2024. So, it took 6 and a half years to reach 1 million, and then 2 years from 1 million to 2 million."

PenNMike faced significant business difficulties from 2023 to early 2024, but the 2024 general election became a crucial momentum that provided confidence in the channel's survival. CEO Cheon Yeong-sik revealed that the general election special broadcast hosted by writer Heo Hyun-jun was the first time concurrent viewers surpassed 10,000. He conveyed his emotion at the time, saying, "During the 2024 general election, when writer Heo Hyun-jun hosted this broadcast, it was the first time that concurrent viewers surpassed 10,000. At that point, we thought, 'Ah, our broadcast can survive.'" He added that despite the conservative camp's defeat in the general election, the re-engagement of viewers confirmed through this broadcast restored confidence in channel operations.

PenNMike's investment in youth began with the 2021 by-election for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. CEO Cheon Yeong-sik explained that he recognized the potential of youth by witnessing the moment Mayor Oh Se-hoon was elected through the power of young people. He stated, "In fact, the first investment in youth began during the 2021 by-election for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. That was the moment when Mayor Oh Se-hoon was first elected in a by-election by the power of young people." At the time, reporter Seonwoo Yoon-ho was from a university student campaign team, and while initial youth broadcasts were criticized as crude, PenNMike focused on showing the raw appearance of young people, exploring new possibilities.

When producing youth content, PenNMike employed a strategy of recruiting even controversial figures to secure new energy and perspectives, despite internal concerns. CEO Cheon Yeong-sik explained that while he secured a promise from guests not to use profanity, he respected the raw, unfiltered perspectives of youth. He stated, "I got a promise from that person not to use profanity. But that kind of energy is needed, and new perspectives—young people don't all have the same views, do they? I believe that by reflecting diverse perspectives of young people, our channel grows, conservatism grows, and the nation grows." CEO Cheon recognized that not all young people have the same views and judged that accepting their diversity is essential for the growth of the channel, the conservative camp, and the entire nation.

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik revealed that PenNMike's management philosophy and core channel strategy is 'the elder statesman of conservatism'. He emphasized, "My channel strategy and management philosophy for PenN has always been that PenN is the elder statesman of conservatism. We have consistently adhered to the elder statesman strategy." CEO Cheon added that he is aware of the various attacks and dissatisfactions that arise while implementing this elder statesman strategy. PenNMike aims to uphold and lead the conservative camp, operating the channel with this role in mind.

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik analyzed that the current media environment has moved beyond terrestrial broadcasters (1st generation) and general programming channels (2nd generation) to the 3rd generation video media era of YouTube. He proudly stated that PenNMike is leading this 3rd generation media era, boldly asserting its pioneering role. He said, "I am truly honored to be able to lead the 3rd generation video media era with PenN, and I boldly state that we are leading it." CEO Cheon hinted that he will not rest on the achievement of 2 million subscribers but will continuously seek new strategies in response to changes in the media environment.

PenNMike has determined that a single channel has limitations in accommodating diverse viewer voices and is therefore concretizing a multi-channel expansion strategy. CEO Cheon Yeong-sik stated that a PenN Economy channel has already been created, and there are plans to create hundreds of specialized channels in the future, such as PenN Youth, PenN Love, PenN Silver, and PenN Health. He said, "We are going with a multi-channel strategy, and we've already created PenN Economy, but I think we need to create hundreds of channels like PenN Youth, PenN Love, PenN Silver, PenN Health..." This multi-channel strategy aims to satisfy diverse viewer needs and further expand PenNMike's influence.

CEO Cheon Yeong-sik analyzed that there has always been a longing among conservative viewers for a representative channel like PenNMike. He explained PenNMike's reason for existence, saying, "There has always been a longing for a channel like this in the conservative camp, and I believe that longing is being somewhat fulfilled through PenN." CEO Cheon urged viewers to offer affectionate support and interest rather than criticism, emphasizing PenNMike's role as a partner in opening up the future together with its viewers.

PenNMike has set a monumental record as the first conservative channel to surpass 2 million YouTube subscribers. CEO Cheon Yeong-sik stated, "PenNMike, which has steadily upheld the conservative right, has become the first conservative right-wing channel to surpass 2 million subscribers," emphasizing that this achievement is thanks to the dedication of subscribers and staff. He expressed deep gratitude to everyone and declared his determination to continuously leap towards 3 million and 5 million subscribers in the future.

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