The number of subscribers to the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube channel, where Alileo is posted, soared to nearly 420,000 subscribers from some 90,000.

“I plan to play the role of a navigator, and introduce the roots and background of national policies along with key information,” Rhyu said in the first YouTube post.

“Many government policies are not on track and at times pulled out because of a lack of attention, which is why I decided to start Alileo,” he added.

The Roh Moo-hyun Foundation is expected to upload another podcast series led by Rhyu this week, aimed at taking on fake news.

The first 20-minute episode, to be posted Tuesday morning, is expected to contain Rhyu’s position on rumors of his return to politics.

On social media, Hong downplayed his rival’s successful YouTube debut, calling Rhyu a “North Korea’s Korean Central Television-like leftist YouTuber who will run out of content within a month.”

Before Rhyu’s YouTube debut, Hong was the most influential politician in terms of the number of subscribers and popularity.

Since the launch of his YouTube channel last month, Hong has freely expressed his thoughts about the Moon administration through various series: three- to five- minute “News coke!” briefings on administrative policies and social issues; a 30-minute talk show featuring experts on North Korea and Korea’s economy; and on-air live shows.

Hong’s channel TV Hongka Cola has so far gained 210,000 subscribers, and its most-watched clip has 470,000 views.

The firebrand politician, however, has come under fire for making unconfirmed allegations, such as claims that the former Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations secretly sent  $500 million in cash to North Korea in exchange for inter-Korean summits.

These alleged payments are in addition to a similar sum already investigated in 2003.