CU, First in Industry to Surpass 300,000 YouTube Subscribers

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] CU's official YouTube channel, 'CUtube,' announced on the 23rd that it has surpassed 300,000 subscribers, becoming the first convenience store industry channel to do so.

Targeting the MZ (Millennial + Z) generation, CUtube underwent a major content overhaul earlier this year. Since the channel renewal, cumulative content views have exceeded 8 million within six months, with subscriber numbers rising sharply.

CU attributes CUtube's popularity to providing trendy content related to convenience stores that capture the attention of the MZ generation. CUtube's content is not limited to simple informational videos but spans various genres such as web dramas, web entertainment, and live commerce, offering subscribers new and engaging experiences.

A representative popular content is 'CU Times,' which repeatedly shows the process of making CU's ready-to-eat meals like triangular kimbap and sandwiches, providing visual healing. The CU Times triangular kimbap episode, aligned with the trend of simple and repetitive content, recorded 100,000 views just four days after upload.

Additionally, the industry's first web drama 'Sweet and Salty Fairy,' aired in March, attracted new subscribers by resonating with the MZ generation through a cheerful and lively love story of youth.

Earlier this month, CU collaborated with 11st to conduct a live broadcast, selling out 30,000 Delafe fruit-flavored ice cups within two hours, confirming the potential of convenience store live commerce. The broadcast also recorded a peak chat rate of 862 messages per minute.

As CU's diverse content spreads by word of mouth, CUtube surpassed 300,000 subscribers less than a month after reaching 200,000 earlier this month. Considering it took about four months to grow from 100,000 to 200,000 subscribers, this is an explosive growth rate.

Meanwhile, to celebrate surpassing 300,000 subscribers, CUtube is holding a two-week '#BestFriend Certification Event.' Participants can join by attaching a subscription verification photo to the CUtube event post and leaving a comment about their favorite CUtube content. Prizes such as iPads will be awarded through a draw.

Yeon Jeong-wook, head of BGF Retail's marketing team, stated, “Thanks to the steady love from our subscribers, CUtube records an average of over 100,000 views per content, establishing itself as the industry's top communication channel. Going forward, CUtube will continue to provide high-quality content to help customers enjoy a smart convenience store lifestyle.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.