The YouTube Series That Helped Lead RESCENE to Commercial Success

Photo: RESCENE Official X

It’s impossible to consume K-Pop-related news from the last few months without seeing headlines about RESCENE. The five-member group from THE MUZE Entertainment skyrocketed in popularity thanks to clever marketing tactics on YouTube. After The Kraze wrote about how RESCENE gained a “noticeable [international] following” in 2024, the group far exceeded expectations by blowing up domestically through variety. To understand how RESCENE pulled this feat off, the story begins at an unexpected place: a YouTube channel to promote a used-car platform.  

Woni’s Start on Studio kok (스튜디오ㅋㅇㅋ) 

Though RESCENE’s recent surge in popularity comes from Woni’s YouTube channel, Woni first gained a following through her appearances on Studio kok (스튜디오ㅋㅇㅋ). This YouTube channel uploads content that promotes South Korea’s “largest” used-car platform, K Car. The channel has featured idols since its inception in February 2025, launching with SHINHWA’s Junjin as the host of their 차주님들 (Car Owners) series.   

In August 2025, Woni began starring in their 나의 연수아저씨 (literally “my ajusshi instructor”) series, where she learns to get her driving license with the help of comedians Lee Sunmin and Yoo Youngwoo. This odd trio has managed to create entertaining episodes that range anywhere from 12 minutes to over two hours. The series is still ongoing, with the  episode from July 3 hitting over 2.6 million views.   

Cultural Content on Woni’s YouTube Channel 

On February 6, 2026, Woni opened up her YouTube channel, 안녕하세요원이입니다잘부탁드립니다 (helloiamwoninicetomeetyou). Produced by Solfa Studio, who also currently works on the YouTube channel ODG, Woni’s channel saw its largest hits with videos that explore language and culture. The channel’s mini-series with members Minami and Zena, each of which created much online buzz. Beginning in May, the satoori series sees Woni and Zena speaking in their local regional dialects (satoori) as they both come from Geoje and Gyeongju, respectively, in the Gyeongsang Province. These videos continue to bring in K-Pop listeners and non-listeners alike, with each episode surpassing 6 million views.  

In the following months, RESCENE secured tourism sponsorship opportunities for the Korean members’ hometowns. The group serves as ambassadors for Geoje; for Gyeongju; for Goyang, May’s hometown; and for Suwon, Liv’s hometown. If the trend continues, Japanese member Minami could serve as an ambassador for her hometown of Chiba. 

The Gyaru Aesthetic Turning into Viral Numbers 

The gyaru mini-series with Minami pushed RESCENE’s YouTube presence even further. These videos show Woni learning Japanese from Minami, who takes on an exaggerated gyaru persona—a Japanese fashion subculture defined by “dark skin tanning, flashy eye makeup, and blonde or brightly colored hair.” In “I Tried Learning the Gyaru Attitude” uploaded on March 20, the duo immerse themselves in gyaru culture. Minami gives Woni a makeover and a lesson in how to embody the rambunctious gyaru behavior. 

“If you go to Geoje [with a loud attitude], you’ll get yelled at by everyone,” Woni says at one point. Koreans quickly adopted Minami’s response of “Geoje, yaho!” (“Geoje, hey!”) into a meme, which has allowed their songs, including 2024’s “LOVE ATTACK,” to rise on multiple domestic music charts. As of July 8, “LOVE ATTACK” hit No. 1 on the MelOn HOT100 chart, No. 4 on the real-time chart for Genie Music’s TOP200, No. 3 on FLO’s daily chart, and No. 4 for both daily and real-time charts on Bugs. To show appreciation for fans’ support, RESCENE performed “LOVE ATTACK” with a gyaru theme on M!COUNTDOWN on June 18. Each gyaru episode has reached over 2 million views, and one gyaru episode shot in Geoje currently has over 9.6 million views.  

So far, 2026 has provided a turning point for RESCENE. Success can come from the most unexpected places, and the group has made sure to capitalize on what people want. The group has also received support from South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, which grants “10 small and medium-sized entertainment agencies and their K-Pop groups”  with ₩300 million annually to promote themselves internationally. With RESCENE currently promoting their remake of KARA’s “Pretty Girl” and preparing for KCON LA 2026, this summer will end up full of YouTube variety and new performances.