SOOP ESG2023

In addition to helping streamers acquire broadcast rights and collaborate on signature content, SOOP also actively supports streamers in creating their own content and has budgeted KRW 6.5 billion in 2023 for this purpose.

In particular, the Content Support Center, which has been in operation since 2016, is a system aimed at helping streamers turn their creative ideas into real content and identifying and nurturing high-potential streamers and provide customized support ranging from content production to promotion. In 2023, the Content Support Center received a total of 847 applications, of which 527, or 62.2%, were approved. Thanks to the high accessibility of the Content Support Center, streamers are able to create and release content of various genres without having to worry about the cost or other constraints and even gain greater exposure as their content are featured on the main page or cable channels of SOOP.

Every month, SOOP selects the best streamers based on how well they communicated with viewers through various and unique content and awards them with various benefits. The selection process includes quantitative evaluation, qualification screening, and additional points, and selected streamers receive various welfare benefits such as psychological counseling program support four times a year, a dedicated bulletin board and a car, and a birthday celebration program.

The minimum application requirements for the best streamers include a certain number of hours and days of streaming, a certain number of subscribers, and completion of SOOP’s ethics training, including the course on the prohibition of infringement of others’ rights. In 2023, we selected up to 85 best streamers per month, and starting in 2024, we will reduce the minimum application requirements and increase the number of the best streamers to give more streamers the opportunity to become best streamers.

Since 2017, SOOP has been offering a professional psychological counseling program, Maum Todak, to the best streamers and partner streamers. The program was introduced to help streamers solve not only broadcast-related problems but also other problems they encounter in their daily lives, such as problems with their family, friends, and interpersonal relationships. By supporting their mental health, we aim to help them focus on content creation and contribute to a healthy content culture. The program is now being expanded to include SOOP employees as well as streamers and is fully funded by the company. Counseling records are strictly protected.

SOOP strives to provide personalized support to streamers at different stages of their growth. In particular, new streamers with 500-1,000 hours of streaming time have a separate support program to provide various opportunities and help them settle into the platform. New streamers can earn reward points through active broadcasting activities which can be redeemed for VOD editing rights or broadcasting equipment such as lights, cameras, and PC accessories.

New streamers also have the opportunity to participate in exclusive events and content just for new streamers. In 2023, we created the ‘Newbie Zone Expedition,’ a series of contents for new streamers, where they visited local landmarks and introduced themselves to the locals, including ‘Plogging for Earth Day,’ ‘Write a letter to professor on Teacher’s Day,’ and ‘Newbie Zone Expedition in War Memorial.’ In August, we held the ‘Welcome to BJ’ event, where new streamers broadcasted their content and prize tickets were distributed for achieving a mission, and more than 100 new streamers benefited from the event. We also operate the ‘Newbie Zone,’ a 1:1 care hotline for new streamers with less than 1,000 hours of cumulative streaming time, to help them adapt to the platform and broadcast their own content stably. This gives new streamers the opportunity to gain streaming know-how, engage in networking, and grow into competitive streamers.

SOOP Multi Channel Networks(MCN) is a partnership service that enables seamless live performance and VOD streaming on YouTube and other platforms, and the service includes constant monitoring to ensure that streamers’ content is not uploaded to YouTube channels without the permission of the streamers. It also provides various services such as expanding streamer PR, promoting content, opening a 1:1 hotline, making video production more convenient, and connecting streamers with VOD editors. To apply, a streamer must have a YouTube channel with at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time.