[Exclusive] Lee Jaban Dreams of Being the Next Kwaktube: “Started YouTube After Breakup… Writing My Success Story from a Semi-Basement”

If you had to pick the most popular “side dish” in the current YouTube ecosystem, it would definitely be Lee Jaban. This fits perfectly with his goal of becoming a friendly YouTuber, much like salted mackerel (Jaban), which everyone enjoys. With visuals like a dirt-covered potato, puppy-like sociability that lets him bond with strangers instantly, and a non-stop stream of chatter, there is plenty of time to fall for Lee Jaban’s humble charm.

“The deadline was approaching, I had no ideas, and I was starving. I just thought, ‘Whatever, let’s just eat something delicious,’ and filmed that, which ended up becoming the second most popular video on my channel. It’s the video that best fits my channel’s identity, so I’m very attached to it. Another one is the video of my mother’s 60th birthday trip abroad. If I weren’t a YouTuber, I don’t think I would have had the chance to travel alone with her, so I cried a lot throughout the filming. It’s a precious record that reminded me of the reason for my life.”

While he is a full-fledged YouTuber now, until a few years ago, he worked as a logistics team leader for a men’s non-brand shopping mall. The reason he left a stable job to pick up a camera was surprisingly his “ex-girlfriend.” “It was around 2024. At the time, my girlfriend really loved YouTube, and after the breakup, I felt a kind of revenge(?) spirit. I started with the mindset of entering that YouTube world she loved, and that’s how I got here.”

Once a special treat eaten occasionally after work, Lee Jaban has now become an “essential side dish” that feels missing if it’s gone. Since just playing his 10-minute videos provides healing, fun, and comfort all at once, could there be a better “meal mate”? Even now, while on the road to success, he still talks about his “imperfections.”