This captured image shows YouTube channel TV Hongka Cola featuring former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo. / Courtesy of TV Hongka Cola



By Park Ji-won



More South Korean politicians have been embracing YouTube as a means of communicating their "message" amid a quickly diversifying media landscape.



Hong Joon-pyo, former leader of the country's largest right-wing Liberty Korea Party (LKP), announced that he will open a YouTube account named "TV Hongka Cola" this month. It aims to release "opinionated content to balance" the media environment which he claims is favorable to the ruling party, he said on Facebook. He will release two news-related videos a week every Tuesday and Thursday from Dec. 18, that will possibly include livestreaming.



His return to the political scene has been largely anticipated among critics since his resignation after the opposition party's crushing defeat in the June local elections. He was a vocal politician who vehemently stood against the ruling government. Some conservatives call him "cider" or "sprite" as a euphemism for his tart remarks that give them a feeling of relief, as those beverages help relieve indigestion.



But not many expected he would open a YouTube channel as his next political step. Even before officially operating it, he has already attracted more than 2,000 subscribers.



His online video platform venture is in line with the change in people's news consumption.



YouTube, most used app in Korea



YouTube became a popular tool for people of all generations to get information.



As of August, YouTube was the most used mobile application by people of all ages, according to online marketing company Wiseapp.



Another internet marketing company MezzoMedia released a survey in November that showed the majority of respondents said they watch less television than last year as they use other devices to watch video content. About 1,000 respondents aged between 15 and 59 participated in the survey from Sept. 20 to Oct. 1. Surprisingly, more people in their 40s use mobile devices to watch videos than TV, from this year.



Those in their teens, or 35.7 percent, used YouTube for internet searches, while 33.7 percent used online search engines.



Lawmakers are actively creating YouTube videos to promote their activities.



Rep. Lee Un-ju of the Bareunmirae Party launched her YouTube account three months ago. She is known for her recent controversial remarks calling former President Park Chung-hee a genius, emerging as a popular conservative icon. She has about 47,000 subscribers. On the channel, Lee releases commentary videos over recent issues as well as videos of public broadcasting appearances or her political activities.





Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea celebrate the launch of its broadcast studio "SSM" at its headquarters in this Nov. 11, file photo. / Korea Times file