South Korean celebs pivot from TV to YouTube

Online platform wins over fans with looser production values than traditional broadcasts

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An episode of YouTube talk show "Pinggyego" with actor Lee Dong-wook that has more than 14 million views. (Screenshot from YouTube)

DAVID D. LEE

SEOUL -- South Korean celebrities and producers are increasingly moving from terrestrial television to YouTube, leading to an elevation in production values on the platform and an alternative path to mainstream exposure.  

When comedian Yoo Byung-jae started to upload comedy sketches to his YouTube channel in 2017, he was an aspiring TV personality making occasional guest appearances on mainstream programs like "Infinite Challenge." He had already established himself as a writer and comedian through "Saturday Night Live Korea," but he believed he was capable of more.

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