'OddNT' of Tech YouTuber ITSub with 2.81 Million Subscribers, Records 470 Million KRW in Sales and a Deficit in 2025... Growing Disappointment

IT lifestyle startup 'OddNT', founded by Korea's top tech YouTuber ITSub (real name Hwang Yong-sub) who has 2.81 million subscribers, was found to have recorded 470 million KRW in sales and a deficit in 2025. This is a somewhat disappointing report card compared to the high expectations gathered by the launch of a brand based on a major IT YouTuber's expertise and the attraction of seed investment from a venture capital (VC) firm.

Sluggish Performance Despite Seed Investment from Series Ventures

Based on his experience reviewing various domestic and foreign tech brands for years, ITSub founded OddNT in 2023 and launched the IT lifestyle brand 'Getri'. OddNT, which revealed its aspiration to create products that add artistic inspiration to innovative technology, previously attracted seed investment from 'Series Ventures', a specialized accelerator for the Southeast region, after receiving high evaluations for its design sensitivity and the creator's brand value.

According to the industry, OddNT attracted an investment of about 220 million KRW from Series Ventures in 2024, and its estimated corporate value at the time was reportedly evaluated at around 2.2 billion KRW. However, despite being a brand from a major YouTuber with a massive fandom, its 2025 performance fell short of expectations, recording 470 million KRW in sales and a deficit.

[Source: Getri Website]

Initial Quality Defects and Sales Suspension of 'ITSub Phone Case' Hold It Back

One of the decisive factors for the sluggish performance is considered to be the quality controversy and sales suspension incident of the 'Getri case dedicated to iPhone 17'. OddNT released the case highlighting strengths such as precise curve design and MagSafe compatibility, but serious quality control (QC) defects occurred in the initial shipments, such as scratches or the MagSafe magnets easily detaching.

Because ITSub had built an image as a 'consumer advocate' by pointing out the shortcomings of popular devices without hesitation through meticulous and objective reviews, the defects that occurred in his own brand brought even greater disappointment to consumers. As the controversy grew, ITSub immediately posted an apology and announced an unconditional refund and compensation plan for all buyers (including sending an additional improved product and providing 10,000 KRW in Naver Pay points), while completely suspending product sales over the weekend. The market analyzes that the decline in credibility and the sales suspension measures caused by this incident dealt a direct blow to OddNT's sales growth in 2025.

Structural Limitations of the Phone Accessory Market That Has Become a Red Ocean

Furthermore, the slowed growth and high competitive intensity of the phone accessory industry itself are pointed out as a massive barrier that OddNT must overcome. The phone accessory market can no longer be seen as a high-growth industry, and it is in a red ocean state where countless existing brands and low-cost products compete fiercely. The current representative players in the phone accessory industry are companies that have dominated large sales channels or have very well-established in-house branding. An influencer's awareness alone may not be enough to easily shake up the industry's landscape.

OddNT initially revealed its vision to grow into a global tech brand, aiming to improve lifestyles through Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity among Getri products. Attention is focusing on whether ITSub's OddNT can overcome the unfavorable factors of the painful initial quality controversy and fierce market competition to restore consumer trust and successfully rebound.