'Chungju man' Kim Seon-tae, known as an Assistant Deputy Director, suddenly submitted his resignation, and his cryptic remarks from past broadcasts are receiving renewed attention.
On the 13th, according to Chungju city, Kim Seon-tae submitted his resignation to the personnel department the previous day and then went on long-term leave. He told OSEN in a phone call, "It is true that I resigned," and "I am currently using up my leave and calmly considering my direction afterward." He added, "The specific course of action will probably become clear after early March. It is true that talks with entertainment agencies have been floated, but nothing has been decided yet."
He drew a line regarding speculation that he might enter politics. He dismissed it, saying, "I have nothing to do with politics. I have never thought about it in that direction." Regarding whether he will continue to use the name 'Chungju man,' he added, "Leaving legal issues aside, I am considering that it would be proper, morally, not to use it after leaving public office."
There is also speculation that his resignation may be related to former Chungju Mayor Cho Gil-hyeong, who had strongly supported his content production and retired early last month to run for governor of North Chungcheong Province.
In particular, when Kim Seon-tae appeared on Men on a Mission in August last year, he was asked, "What happens if the mayor changes? Do you quit?" and he answered, "If the mayor changes, it's either a funeral attendant or a tagalong," prompting laughter. That remark is being reexamined in light of this resignation.
Also, when he appeared on Radio Star in 2024, he said, "I mentioned retirement as a pledge for 1 million subscribers," and explained, "I wasn't saying I would leave Chungju but that I wanted to move to another department." He added, "There is a bit of a funeral attendant crisis. I want to leave while people applaud," and said he hoped to work at an eup/myeon/dong office or a museum.
Kim Seon-tae, a Chungju city official, ran official social media and a YouTube channel and earned the nickname 'Chungju man.' He is credited with creating a new model for local government promotional content through parody and witty rhetoric. Recognizing these achievements, he was promoted from grade 9 to grade 6 in about seven years and served as head of the new media team.
With his sudden resignation, attention is focused on whether he will completely leave public office to choose a new path or meet the public in another form.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
[OSEN]