It turned out that lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea have appeared on broadcaster Kim Ou-joon's YouTube channel nearly twice a day on average over the past six months. People even said, "Lawmakers are lining up to appear on Kim Ou-joon's YouTube."
However, Kim's YouTube channel is facing criticism as "spreading false information" and "a malicious conspiracy theory" after a recent guest raised a suspicion to the effect that "there is a transaction under which the government would grant supplemental investigation authority if prosecutors cancel the indictment in President Lee Jae-myung's criminal case." Among Democratic Party lawmakers, talk is growing of "holding Kim Ou-joon accountable" and "refraining from appearing on Kim Ou-joon's YouTube."
◇ Democratic Party lawmakers sought the "big speaker" nearly twice a day
On the 13th, ChosunBiz tallied how many times Democratic Party lawmakers appeared on the YouTube program "Kim Ou-joon's Humility Is Hard News Factory," hosted by Kim.
As a result, there were 259 appearances in just the past six months (Sept. 13, 2025–Mar. 13, 2026). Considering there were about 130 broadcast days during this period (excluding weekends), Democratic Party lawmakers effectively appeared twice a day. A total of 64 Democratic Party lawmakers appeared. Even on the 11th–12th after the "indictment cancellation transaction theory" surfaced, three Democratic Party lawmakers — Noh Jong-myeon, Yang Bu-nam and Cha Ji-ho — appeared on Kim's program.
Among Democratic Party lawmakers, Rep. Park Ju-min appeared the most at 26 times. They were followed by Yang Bu-nam (24), Kim Seung-won (24), Park Sun-won (13) and Kim Ki-pyo (12), and Lee Geon-tae (11). During this period, party leaders including Chair Jung Chung-rae and Floor Leader Han Byung-do, as well as local election contenders such as Choo Mi-ae, Jeon Hyun-hee and Han Jun-ho, also went on Kim's YouTube program.
Democratic Party lawmakers are drawn to Kim's program because of his influence among the base. As of that day, Kim's YouTube channel had 2.27 million subscribers. The vast majority appear to lean progressive. Inside the party, it showed such immense sway that people even said, "If you appear once, donations definitely pour in." Although Kim Min-seok, the prime minister, was included in a Seoul mayor poll and a "Kim Ou-joon orchestration theory" spread regarding a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party, Kim did not lose his status in the ruling camp as a "big speaker."
◇ "Like lining up to pay homage"… discontent erupts in the Democratic Party
Recently, as talk of supplemental investigation authority for prosecutors and an indictment cancellation transaction theory involving the president emerged on Kim's program, the mood has shifted from before. As the word "impeachment" even appeared in some political circles based on the transaction theory, calls of "holding Kim Ou-joon accountable" have surfaced within the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party said the previous day it would file a complaint against Jang In-soo, a former MBC reporter who raised the "indictment cancellation transaction theory," but it took no action against Kim, the host. As a result, some in the Democratic Party say action against Kim is also necessary. On the 13th, when tensions escalated, no Democratic Party lawmakers appeared on Kim's program.
Previously, Rep. Kwak Sang-eon of the Democratic Party, the son-in-law of former President Roh Moo-hyun, said Kim Ou-joon's influence should be kept in check, but it was akin to a lone handclap. However, with the failed merger between the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party this year, KTV's alleged snub of Democratic Party Chair Jung Chung-rae, and Kim's repeated attacks on Prime Minister Kim Min-seok accumulating, there is talk that dissatisfaction within the Democratic Party — especially among pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers — has reached a tipping point.
On that day, Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Joon-byung wrote on Facebook, "Not only the speaker (regarding the issue of canceling the indictment in the president's case) but also the one who provided the venue must be held strictly accountable," and Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu said, "Will this problem be solved by filing a complaint against (Jang In-soo) just one person?" The pro-Lee faction's outside organization, the Democratic National Innovation Council, said in a commentary, "Kim Ou-joon's News Factory should not evade responsibility."
Song Young-gil, a former Democratic Party chair preparing to run in a by-election, said incumbent lawmakers should refrain from the so-called act of "lining up" for Kim's YouTube. Appearing on CBS Radio that day, Song said, "It is not good to see lawmakers just lining up at a particular media YouTube as if paying homage," adding, "Just as we criticize YouTubers Go Seong-guk or Jeon Han-gil for the People Power Party, we too have things to reflect on."