The Power Behind 1.2 Million Subscribers: Geekble CEO Chanhoo Park's Content Strategy 

The “2025 Spring Semester Entrepreneurship Academy: Lecture Series 5,” hosted by the Startup Research Institute at Korea University Business School, was held on Tuesday, June 10 in Room B307 (Kolon Lecture Hall), Hyundai Motor Hall. The special lecture featured Chanhoo Park, co-founder and CEO of the maker-based content startup Geekble, who delivered a talk titled “The Hidden Secrets of the Media Content Industry.” 

Park began by sharing his personal journey—graduating from a science high school and studying computer engineering in college—along with the career-related uncertainties he faced. He recounted how his accidental participation in the Google News Lab during his undergraduate years sparked a deep interest in the content industry and new media. 
Highlighting a graph that showed smartphone screen time surpassing TV viewing time—despite the latter remaining steady—he explained that this shift helped him realize that the total volume of content consumption was increasing, which ultimately inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship. 

Founded in 2016, Geekble has become a leading media content company with over 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube. The company has expanded its business into a variety of fields, including engineering, education, and branded content.  Park shared, “We wanted to take on the role that traditional media outlets like National Geographic or BBC Science play—only on new media platforms.” He went on to explain that the name ‘Geekble’ reflects the philosophy that ‘Geeks are able’ (Geek + Able). 

The lecture also highlighted several of Geekble’s bold and innovative content projects. These ranged from experimental videos that focus on the creative process—such as the “Failed Fish-Shaped Bread Automation Machine”—to more advanced creations like an AI-powered scent-mixing device developed in collaboration with Google. 
This machine, which can blend up to eight out of 45 fragrance components to produce personalized scents, was even exhibited in Japan. 

Beyond producing content, Geekble also serves as a media platform that shines a spotlight on engineers. “Just as artists and athletes receive attention and support, we want to create a stage where scientists and engineers can be recognized and celebrated,” said Park. He added that Geekble works in collaboration with schools and educational institutions to help nurture the next generation of engineers. 

In the latter part of the lecture, a participatory session was held in which students analyzed and presented industry data. One student from the Department of Statistics presented a graph illustrating the growth of the web novel market alongside the steady state of the print book market. Park remarked that the trend was similar to the relationship between TV and smartphone usage, describing it as a noteworthy case. 

To conclude, Park introduced Warren Buffett’s concept of a business “moat,” outlining its five key elements: network effects, cost structure, intangible assets, switching costs, and efficient scale. He emphasized that aspiring entrepreneurs should develop long-term vision and build structural competitiveness from the outset. 

During the Q&A session that followed the lecture, Park revealed one of the “hidden secrets” of the media content industry. “Platforms design their algorithms based on viewer retention time,” he explained. “It’s not just about producing one good video—it’s about designing an experience that aligns with the user’s overall content consumption journey.” For instance, Geekble uses tagging strategies to increase the likelihood of algorithmic recommendations on YouTube—such as guiding viewers from a science documentary to a related movie review. 

Through this special lecture, attendees gained valuable insights into the content industry and the startup ecosystem, and had a meaningful opportunity to experience firsthand the entrepreneurial spirit that embraces challenges and failures. 

Meanwhile, the “Entrepreneurship Academy” is a startup education program organized by Korea University’s Startup Research Institute. It aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with practical insights through special lectures delivered by startup experts.