MrBeast gains most YouTube subscribers in Korea this year

The YouTuber who saw the most increase in subscribers in Korea this year isn’t a Korean – it’s James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson, better known as MrBeast.

MrBeast produced a real-life adaptation of "Squid Game" (2021), a hit Netflix original series. The video was uploaded on his YouTube channel in November 2021. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The YouTuber who saw the most increase in the number of subscribers in Korea this year isn't from Korea. It's James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson, better known as MrBeast.

Based on the number of subscribers from January to October, MrBeast was the YouTube with the most subscribers this year, according to Google Korea on Monday.

MrBeast, who has 218 million subscribers as of Dec. 12, gained popularity in Korea after shooting a real-life adaptation of the hit Netflix original series "Squid Game" (2021).

Google Korea attributed MrBeast's increase in subscribers to his use of YouTube's multi-language audio tracks feature to provide dubbed content in 10 languages, including Korean.

Lee Young Ji's video, filmed with girl group aespa's member Karina, was the most-viewed video in Korea this year. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The most-viewed YouTube video in Korea this year was an episode of rapper Lee Young-ji's show "Not Much Prepared," featuring Lee drinking alcohol and talking with girl group aespa's member Karina.

The most-viewed YouTube Short of 2023 was a clip of Lee doing the dance challenge for girl group IVE's song "I AM," which she uploaded on her own channel.

Google Korea also revealed Korea's top 10 most popular videogame-related videos this year, with five of them being related to the multiplayer battle arena game League of Legends.

BY JUNG SI-NAE, KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]