๐บ Korea’s 1st-Gen YouTuber Daedoseogwan Has Passed: End of an Era
The Korean YouTube community is grieving. On September 6, 2025, news broke that Na Dong-hyun, better known as Daedoseogwan or The Great Library, has passed away at just 46 years old.
Daedoseogwan wasn’t just a Korean YouTuber. He was a pioneer, one of the earliest creators to blend live streaming culture with YouTube gaming content, building bridges between platforms like AfreecaTV and YouTube at a time when most Koreans still saw video content as just television or film. His passing is now dominating Korean news, international headlines, and countless social media tributes.
A Pioneer of Korean YouTube Culture
Back in the early 2010s, before the YouTube algorithm rewarded long-form creators, Daedoseogwan was already experimenting with gaming streams, reaction videos, and community engagement. He earned the nickname The Great Library because his channel felt endless—a digital archive of gameplay, pop culture commentary, and daily life streams.
With over 1.4 million subscribers and more than 1.5 billion total views, he wasn’t just popular—he was a household name in the Korean streaming community. Young gamers, aspiring vloggers, and even professional broadcasters studied his methods: how he spoke, how he built trust, and how he monetized his channel through brand partnerships, live donations, and content sponsorships.
The Final Days
On September 4, 2025, Daedoseogwan appeared at the Seoul Fashion Week 2026 Spring/Summer event, showing fans a lighter side of his life. Later that same day, he livestreamed for over five hours, gaming, joking, and chatting with viewers. He admitted, “I haven’t slept much… maybe just three hours,” making fans worry about his health.
Two days later, when he didn’t respond to messages or show up for scheduled content, fans contacted emergency responders. He was found unresponsive at his home in Seoul’s Gwangjin-gu district. Authorities confirmed there were no signs of foul play, no note left behind, and his family later revealed that the suspected cause was a cerebral hemorrhage.
Why His Death Hits So Hard
This isn’t just about one person. It’s about losing a symbol of the Korean YouTube revolution. Daedoseogwan represented:
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The rise of independent media creators in Korea
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The fusion of gaming content and mainstream entertainment
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The start of YouTube monetization culture in Korea
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A blueprint for content creator careers that inspired thousands
When we say this is “the end of an era,” we mean the transition from 1st-gen YouTubers to today’s highly commercialized influencer market. His passing reminds everyone that behind the algorithm, the sponsorships, and the viral clips, creators are still human beings under immense pressure, stress, and fatigue.
Global Reactions
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Fans: Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are filled with hashtags like #Daedoseogwan, #GreatLibrary, and #RIPDaedo. Fans are posting clips of his funniest moments, heartfelt speeches, and marathon gaming sessions that defined a generation.
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Fellow creators: Dozens of Korean YouTubers, Twitch streamers, and global content creators have posted tributes. Many openly admit they started their careers after watching Daedoseogwan’s early broadcasts.
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Media outlets: From Korean newspapers to international outlets like Reuters and AP, headlines stress that this was not just the death of a YouTuber, but a cultural shift.
The Legacy He Leaves Behind
Daedoseogwan taught us that content creation wasn’t just a hobby. It could be a career, a livelihood, and a community. He normalized the idea of being a full-time YouTuber in Korea long before it was considered respectable.
His impact lives on in:
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YouTube Korea’s growth into one of the platform’s strongest markets
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The global spread of K-culture through online platforms
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The rise of Korean gaming content creators like Woowakgood, Kimblue, and countless others who cite him as an inspiration
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The normalization of YouTube live streaming as a professional format
For younger audiences, Daedoseogwan was the face of Korean YouTube—and for older fans, he was proof that passion plus persistence could turn into something truly historic.
Final Thoughts
The loss of Daedoseogwan is more than a personal tragedy—it’s a cultural milestone. His sudden death from a likely cerebral hemorrhage highlights the human side of digital fame, while his career stands as a blueprint for every content creator in Korea and beyond.
As fans mourn, one thing is clear: his channel may stop uploading, but his influence will live forever in the DNA of Korean YouTube. This is truly the end of an era, but also a reminder of the legacy one creator can leave behind for millions.
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