Far-right YouTubers rake in $23,000 daily capitalizing on ‚Yoon’s 40% approval rating‘

Far Right Youtubers Rake In $23,000 Daily Capitalizing On 'yoon's 40% Approval Rating'

Seen are far-right YouTube channels capitalizing on polls with questionable credibility showing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s 40 percent approval rating. Captured from YouTube.

Seen are far-right YouTube channels capitalizing on polls with questionable credibility exhibiting President Yoon Suk Yeol’s 40 p.c approval score. Captured from YouTube.

Far-right YouTubers who vocally assist President Yoon Suk Yeol are incomes a median of 31 million gained ($23,000) each day in donations.

They cite polls claiming Yoon’s approval score exceeds 40 p.c to advertise the concept “the tide is in our favor” and draw monetary backing. Critics argue that such polls, which face questions over their credibility, misrepresent public sentiment and violate journalistic ethics.

In keeping with Playboard, a world platform monitoring YouTube analytics, far-right YouTubers capitalized on polls by KOPRA exhibiting Yoon’s approval score surpassing 40 p.c.

From Jan. 5, when Yoon’s preliminary arrest warrant expired, to Jan. 6, when the ballot outcomes have been extensively reported, these YouTube channels earned substantial “superchat” donations, the place viewers pay to focus on messages throughout YouTube livestreams to assist creators.

Widespread channels comparable to God’s Hansoo (@tubeshin, 1.6 million subscribers, created by Shin Hye-sik), and Hong Chul-gi TV (@hongtv, 510,000 subscribers) dominated the highest donation rankings on Jan. 5 and the next day.

Collectively, these channels earned 40 million gained in donations on Jan. 5 alone. Over 5 days, they amassed 155 million gained, averaging 31 million gained each day.

These YouTubers amplified KOPRA’s outcomes via livestreams, typically broadcasting scenes from protests exterior Yoon’s official residence in Seoul’s Hannam-dong.

In a video by God’s Hansoo, a protester declared, “Yoon’s approval score exceeds 40 p.c. Conservatives are uniting and supporting the president,” prompting cheers from the group. The video garnered 580,000 views, rating fourth among the many channel’s 25 stay movies this month, and earned over 25 million gained in donations through the two-day interval.

The ballot outcomes additionally boosted subscriber progress. Channels with over 900,000 subscribers, comparable to Lawyer Bae Seung-hee, Ko Sung-kook TV and Lee Bong-kyu TV, collectively gained 66,000 new subscribers from Jan. 5 to 9 — a 60 p.c enhance in comparison with the previous interval.

A live video posted on YouTube channel God's Hansoo on Jan. 6 shows a protester saying, “President Yoon’s approval rating has exceeded 40 percent.” Captured from YouTube

A stay video posted on YouTube channel God’s Hansoo on Jan. 6 reveals a protester saying, “President Yoon’s approval score has exceeded 40 p.c.” Captured from YouTube

Ballot methodology underneath scrutiny

Nevertheless, KOPRA’s ballot sparked controversy after its launch, as its first query was unconventional in comparison with customary surveys.

“Usually, polls ask whether or not the president is doing effectively or poorly in managing state affairs. Nevertheless, KOPRA’s surveys didn’t ask whether or not respondents assist or oppose the president, however as an alternative started with, ‘How a lot do you assist the president?’” stated Kim Heon-tae, CEO of Plenty Consulting and founding father of the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI).

“Even contemplating the president’s suspended duties, asking about ‘approval rankings’ as an alternative of ‘state administration’ was not a mannequin survey design.”

South Korea’s Public Official Election Act additionally prohibits questions that might lead respondents towards a particular reply based mostly on the pollster’s intent. On Jan. 7, the Democratic Get together of Korea filed a grievance concerning the ballot with the Nationwide Election Fee’s Central Election Ballot Evaluation Committee.

Regardless of these considerations, many far-right YouTubers disregarded the bias allegations. Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of Jun Kwang-hoon TV claimed, “In actuality, Yoon’s approval score exceeds 60 p.c. With extra rallies, it ought to attain 90 p.c.”

Lee Bong-kyu TV additionally asserted, “Yoon’s approval is greater now than earlier than martial regulation, exhibiting public assist for his selections.”

Different far-right channels used the ballot as political ammunition. For instance, Jin Seong-ho TV (1.86 million subscribers) highlighted the ends in a thumbnail studying, “Frightened (opposition get together chief) Lee Jae-myung panics. The tide has turned.”

Far-right YouTuber Lee Bong-kyu interprets KOPRA's poll results as showing “an increase in public support for martial law.” Captured from Lee Bong-kyu TV YouTube channel

Far-right YouTuber Lee Bong-kyu interprets KOPRA’s ballot outcomes as exhibiting “a rise in public assist for martial regulation.” Captured from Lee Bong-kyu TV YouTube channel

Requires regulation of YouTuber earnings

Consultants agree that there’s at the moment no efficient answer to curb the monetization of distorted or biased narratives by political YouTubers.

Yoo Hyun-jae, a professor of media communications at Sogang College, emphasised the necessity for brand new laws to tax and criminally penalize YouTubers who unfold false info.

“Authorities and YouTube should collaborate to implement technological measures, comparable to blocking advice algorithms solely throughout politically delicate intervals,” Yoo stated.

He highlighted the issue of customers being trapped in algorithms that repeatedly suggest content material aligned with their biases, hindering rational judgment.

Lee Chang-hyeon, a professor of media and promoting at Kookmin College, underscored the significance of self-regulation that protects freedom of expression for YouTubers.

Nevertheless, he proposed selective rules for extremely influential channels, saying, “Influential channels, comparable to these with over one million subscribers, should bear an applicable stage of social accountability.”

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.

 

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