232

[The video starts with Jisoo smiling at the camera. He's the only person visible in the shot, recorded from the waist up. As the interview is conducted, the only prompts the viewer sees are the words written on the screen. There are no other voices heard throughout the length of the video. Though Jisoo is speaking English, there are Korean subtitles on the bottom of the screen.]

CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

Hi, everyone. My name is Jisoo Bang, but you might know me as Soo Ssaem from the Soo Ssaem Channel on Youtube where I try to make Korean language and culture accessible to everyone. 

I have been teaching Korean on Youtube for about three years now but I have taught Korean language for much longer than that. I have been teaching online and I worked full-time for a language school in Seoul before I started working freelance in 2022. And now I'm here in the Yonhap News studio recording this interview!

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CREATE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL?

I decided to start a Youtube channel because I wanted to help more people learn Korean in a way that is free but also more fun than just only reading a textbook. I have studied foreign languages myself so I know how challenging it is and I want to help others achieve their goals too. That’s why I try to use interesting methods to help my viewers learn Korean like learning through video games, for example. 

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO TEACH KOREAN?

I always had a passion for learning about other cultures and I think language is a very important part of that. It’s how we communicate with other people and learning a new language can help you connect with people who you don't normally connect with. So, I wanted to help those people that are interested in Korea too. 

WHAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT TEACHING ON YOUTUBE?

The best thing is that I can do whatever I want to do. Because we're not in a classroom with a very strict curriculum, we can make it more fun and random, which I like. It's better to have fun when you're learning and I think on Youtube it's a perfect place to do that.

WHAT'S THE HARDEST PART ABOUT TEACHING ON YOUTUBE?

Actually, I think I'm not a very creative person. It's a bit stressful to take some ideas and make them become a real thing. I don't want my videos to be boring so I try really hard to make them interesting for everybody. Like... finding balance? You know, try to make it entertaining but also educational. It's hard sometimes.

Also, I had to learn about editing videos because I never had experience before. I've had to learn a lot about that so that was a bit challenging at first, but I really like it now.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF TEACHING?

I like traveling and spending time with my family and my friends. But my favorite thing, it's being at home with my wife and our animals and playing games. That's where I can find my biggest happiness.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT MARRIAGE!

Oh, thank you! I am a really happy guy now. Everyone who is watching this video should go subscribe to Pony on Youtube as well. She's helped me a lot when I was starting my channel so I hope everyone can support my wife in her career too. She deserves it.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS SOOTUBE?

Sootube is my second channel where I post random videos that don't really match my Soo Ssaem channel. It's more free and random so if you like that kind of things, you can feel free to check it out too.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR CHANNELS ARE GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION?

Are they? Well, I think Korean culture is kind of a hot topic these days. Lots of people around the world are watching dramas and listening to K-pop music so there is a lot of interest and demand for resources compared to a long time ago. But I hope people are interested in my channel because I can make learning a bit more entertaining for them. And maybe also because I'm really an honest person about things, even when I talk about bad things. I'm a bit bold so I try to keep it realistic, not fake.

IS THAT WHY YOU HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT SENSITIVE TOPICS ON YOUR CHANNEL?

Yes. I don't want to pretend like I'm living in a fairy tale. I think some people might think I do, but I don't. I'm just a human being like everyone else and I think we need to change our perspective in society about what is okay to share with other people and what isn't. That's why I have talked about mental health on my channel. I would like to keep being open about those things so that other people feel invited to share their thoughts and feelings with other people as well.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO JUDGE YOU?

Nothing, honestly. I just hope they live a good life and stay focused on themselves. I try not to worry how people think of me these days, even though it can be hard. I come from a family with a lot of history that many people know about so I'm used to people having opinions that I don't always agree with. That's just how life is.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ENCOURAGING TO SAY TO PEOPLE LEARNING KOREAN?

Thank you for your interest in learning about my culture. And if you're learning with me, then I thank you even more. Korean can be challenging like any language so I hope you won't give up in the difficult times. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. So, keep going and don't be shy about it. Fighting!

ANY LAST WORDS FOR YOUR SUBSCRIBERS?

사랑해요. I love you. Thank you a lot for your support. I'll work hard to keep making videos that you will enjoy. And I really hope we can see each other again soon.