Chapter 26
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Three Silver Buttons
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"Silver button? What's that?"
Jang Deokcheol tilted his head and asked.
Before Kangyul could answer, Kim Min-a chimed in with excitement.
"It's a symbolic gift YouTube sends when you hit 100,000 subscribers. Gold for a million, diamond for ten million. We're probably the first to snag three silver buttons at once?"
"Haha, is it really that big a deal?"
Jang Deokcheol's expression suggested he wasn't too clued in on YouTube.
"Just like Kim Min-a said, it's symbolic. Like getting a pat on the back for all your hard work?"
The box contained the silver button along with an enclosed letter.
Your channel has surpassed 100,000 subscribers. An incredible milestone achieved by only a tiny fraction of YouTube creators.
...
...
1 million subscribers might feel distant, but you'll get there sooner than you think. We wish you every success.
'One million.'
In fact, the first Korean YouTuber to snag a gold button for hitting a million subscribers was Yang Ding.
But if things stayed on their past trajectory, that wouldn't happen until 2015— a full four years from now.
'This time around, Midas Corporation will claim the first gold button. And the diamond one too.'
"Perfect timing. We were due for a subscriber appreciation video anyway."
Midas Corporation now managed five YouTube channels, up from the original three.
Starting with the trailblazing Gourmet Kangyul A, there was Park Jun-hyung's breakout hit What's Up Man, Kim Min-a's Meerkat's Horror Games, and two brand-new ones that had just launched within the past week.
One was none other than future UFC champion Jung Chan-sung's Fighting Theory 101. The other was Travel Info Man, a guy dishing out travel tips.
These two fresh channels had carved out clear fanbases thanks to their unique concepts—not bad at all.
Curiously, Travel Info Man's host was an in-house editor and PD at Midas Corporation.
He was a backpacking and world-travel junkie, and he'd jumped at the chance when Kangyul pitched the idea.
'He's out in Africa right now, sweating bullets through some civil war that kicked off right after he arrived. Stuck hiding at home.'
Jung Chan-sung of Fighting Theory 101 was the kind of fighter anyone into MMA would recognize from his "Korea Prep" days.
Not in the UFC yet and still on the rise, but with Kangyul's full backing, he'd skyrocket from here.
'Guy's work ethic is unmatched.'
The original three channels were exploding too, pulling in subscribers at a breakneck pace.
Gourmet Kangyul A, hosted by Kangyul himself, drew fans not just domestically but overseas as well.
Mukbangs had even spawned copycats in places like the US and UK.
'No surprise in this blue ocean— the growth is insane.'
Wake up, and you'd gained tens of thousands overnight. At this rate, a million didn't seem so far off.
'Meerkat's Horror Games is no slouch either.'
Subscriber count trailed Gourmet Kangyul A, but average views led the pack.
Domestic fans rewatched relentlessly, and with videos stretching past twenty minutes, ad rates were juicy.
Fewer subs, but monthly revenue dwarfed Kangyul's channel. Still, neither held a candle to the juggernaut: What's Up Man.
Park Jun-hyung was a fish in water on What's Up Man. His quirky speech and antics landed CF deals left and right, and even broadcast TV hyped his YouTube dominance.
'Team Leader Kim Donghwan was spot on pushing that exclusive contract.'
Without it, he might not have poured everything into the channel like this.
Click—
Kangyul pulled up this month's YouTube earnings.
Gourmet Kangyul A: 5,674,100 won. Meerkat's Horror Games: 6,210,300 won. The star What's Up Man: 9,120,600 won.
Total across the three: 21,005,000 won.
But that was just the ad revenue. Product placement and branded deals dwarfed it—several times over.
Few Korean channels commanded this many subs.
Even Gourmet Kangyul A got franchise sponsors begging him to feature new menu items. A single shoutout? Minimum ten million in ad value.
What's Up Man started at thirty million per plug. All told, monthly haul clocked around 200 million won.
'Insane results, but I can't settle here.'
Kangyul funneled every won back into content dev and hiring. Fat bonuses, imported trainers for training—whatever it took.
Invest like that, and employees stay happy. Better content follows.
'Hmm. Come to think of it, everyone's been grinding non-stop since the company started.'
Even colleges did MTs and OTs. Midas? Nada.
Kangyul casually probed Jang Deokcheol.
"Vice President, how about a company workshop?"
"Workshop?"
Jang Deokcheol had joined a few at Seonjin Group. Solid for bonding and loyalty.
"Yeah. We've never all gathered face-to-face. Boost that sense of belonging, ramp up company pride?"
"Sounds good. I'll scout a spot."
Kangyul waved him off. He had a place in mind.
"Mandarin Hotel. Plenty of room for everyone, even if it's older. And the food's killer."
Might as well spend Dad's money while at it.
"Got it."
No time like the present—the workshop was locked for next week.
Kangyul headed straight to the studio that day and shot the silver button unboxing and thank-you video.
"Yuha! Thanks to all your love, Kangyul finally did it!"
Referring to himself by name used to feel cringey at first. Now? Second nature.
Thanks to practicing with kindergarten buddy Hye-mi in mind.
Kangyul pulled out the silver button and held it front and center for the camera.
"Ta-da! YouTube silver button! Pretty, huh? Hehe. All thanks to you handsome oppas and pretty noonas."
He popped up and dropped into a deep bow.
The awkwardness only made it cuter.
As he went for seconds, Park Gyusu rushed in.
"Kangyul! Once only! Twice is a no-go!"
"Huh? Just once?"
Kangyul froze mid-bow, all gangly.
"But at home, we do two..."
"That's for ancestors."
"...Oh, right. Hehe..."
Kangyul straightened, sat back down.
"Please keep taking good care of Kangyul from now onnn!"
A quick edit later, the thank-you video went live that day.
Thumbnail: Kangyul bowing with the silver button.
'Let's see the comments.'
Yuha! Kangyul finally got the silver button! Emergency thank-you video!
Feels like yesterday I saw his first video. Congrats, Kangyul ^^
Right? Just two months? ㅠ.ㅠ So proud watching this.
Silver button looks like that, huh.
That's real silver? Or fake?
Your life's the fake.
Wanna die?
Not real silver. Checked the YouTube site.
Gold button next! GOGOGO! >ㅁ<
Tons more in foreign languages too. Plenty he couldn't read, but he hearted them all anyway.
Unboxing and thank-yous were already shot for What's Up Man and Meerkat's Horror Games.
Kangyul previewed before upload, hunting glitches.
First eyes on the final cut? His little thrill.
'Man, Park Jun-hyung's a natural, and Kim Min-a too. Gets funnier every time.'
Rubbing his aching cheeks from laughter, he hit upload. Good vibes held till home.
Then his mood tanked.
The nanny was quitting.