Country Profile: South Korea
Propelled by the global popularity of K-pop and a significant rise in live concert attendees itching to make up for lost time after the pandemic, the South Korean public and the country’s government continues to invest in entertainment despite increased artist fees and ticket and production costs.
“The market forecast appears to be hugely positive for the next couple of years,” says Tommy Jinho Yoon, CEO of ICA-Live-Asia – one of several key players alongside Eventim Live Asia, Private Curve, Live Nation, and Japan-based Creativeman.
Having already booked sold-out shows by Suede and Sum 41 this year, Yoon doesn’t see any deviation from the population’s preferred Western genres.
“While it’s trend-driven, the Korean market tends to be somewhat predictable, with modern pop and mainstream chart hits proving consistently popular while genres such as country and jazz only attract a niche audience.”
According to Fake Virgin’s Violet Her, open-minded Gen Z audiences who missed out on experiencing live concert culture during lockdown have become a vital target audience for promoters and performers…
Looking for full access?
Enjoy unlimited access to all digital content by subscribing to IQ
Share this
