With an estimated 8 million downloads since its launch, Clubhouse’s popularity continues worldwide and even beyond its core technology-centric seed community. The latest news comes from East Asia, where Korean media reported this morning that the country’s current prime minister, Chung Sye-kyun, has used the name @gyunvely in his official audio application and has included some of the world’s most senior political leaders to join him bargaining application. His account was created on Valentine’s Day (February 14) and was “nominated” by a user using the name TJ Park (Clubhouse does not have a verification profile).
So far, Prime has built less than 500 followers and is following less than 200 accounts, probably indicating the app’s current presence in one of the world’s mobile and connected digital economies. Read his clubhouse bio “노란잠바 그 아저씨” or “That Yellow Jacket Guy”, a reference to the Korean civil defense uniforms worn by politicians during the crisis (such as throughout the entire COVID-19 epidemic) and which currently serve – the cartoon form – Chung’s as profile picture.
According to local media reports, Chung spent more than an hour in a clubhouse room talking to Jung Chiang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. In a public Facebook post yesterday, the Prime Minister said, “I heard this [app] is ‘hot’ these days so I tried to walk at night.”
“I was a little shocked by the unexpected questions and responses, but the new experience was enjoyable.” I think I will take part from time to time in the future. “It’s just audio-audio and everyone can have a conversation without reserves. It makes me think it’s a better communication tool than any other social media platform, especially since we’re currently living in a non-face-to-face era – face-to-face communication,” he said.” Questions in the clubhouse room included questions about the high value of real estate in sports media and more bread-and-butter policies, such as physical abuse, which have made headlines in recent weeks in the local media.
While clubhouse technologists and hotel culture have become the norm for every form of acquaintance, the app has increasingly turned into politics that are unknown to other social networks. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was at the clubhouse to sell his cities potential for the technology industry. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin joined a “debate” on the platform about the future of the SF, while NYC mayor aspirant and UBI-backed Andrew Young joined the discussion about himself. Nevertheless, as the platform expands worldwide, if some restrained conversations come under closer scrutiny, the challenges to its open and freewheeling remain. China has now cordoned off the clubhouse within its borders after a brief period of censorship talks.
As Clubhouse continues to gain mainstream legitimacy and interest, questions remain about the future of the app’s success, such as how it will finance creators and how it will continue to expand if the world is open after COVID-19.
