Park Jin-young, founder and producer of JYP Entertainment, has been appointed as the co-chair of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, a newly established body under President Lee Jae-myung aimed at strengthening Korea’s cultural influence worldwide.

The announcement was made on September 9 by Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary, who stated that the committee will officially launch this month. Park Jin-young will serve alongside Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Through his social media, Park Jin-young expressed both concern and determination about taking on a government role: “Accepting this responsibility was not an easy decision. As someone from the entertainment industry, I was worried and hesitant. But I believe K-pop is facing a very special opportunity right now, and I felt it was my duty to help make the most of it.”

He reflected on his long journey in globalizing K-pop:

  • 2003 – when he went to the U.S. promoting Korean artists to American record labels.
  • 2009 – when Wonder Girls became the first Korean group to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
  • 2025 – with K-pop now at the center of global attention.

“My dream has always been the same,” Park Jin-young emphasized, “for K-pop to be loved all over the world.”

Park Jin-young also stressed the importance of institutional support for the entertainment industry: “I want to help organize areas that need policy backing so that real, effective support reaches the field. I’ll do my best to create more opportunities for young artists. Beyond just spreading Korean culture, I hope K-pop can become a bridge where people around the world understand and connect with one another.”

He closed by thanking Minister Choi Hwi-young for sharing the responsibility, saying it gave him the courage to accept the position.

Kang Hoon-sik highlighted the significance of Park Jin-young’s appointment: “Park Jin-young is one of Korea’s most respected artists and has worked tirelessly for the globalization of K-pop. With his leadership, we believe Korea can further blossom as a cultural powerhouse while fostering deeper cultural exchanges with the world.”

The Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange will serve as a platform to promote Korean culture abroad while also bringing diverse global cultures into Korea, contributing to the government’s vision of making the nation one of the world’s top five cultural powerhouses.

Sources: Daum