The KPOP Association presented the growth direction of the K-content performance industry through the '1st Seminar for the Development of the Popular Music Performance Industry.'
The Korea Popular Music Performance Industry Association (hereinafter referred to as 'KPOP Association') announced that it successfully held the '1st Seminar for the Development of the Popular Music Performance Industry' on the 22nd (Tuesday) at the SOMA Museum in Olympic Park, Songpa District.
This seminar was organized to lay the groundwork for the long-term development of the performance industry in conjunction with the new government’s launch, seeking improvement in policy systems and public-private cooperation. In particular, through two sessions focusing on the voices from the field, it addressed the questions of ▲ the lack of performance venues in Seoul and whether large-scale performance venues in the metropolitan area can serve as alternatives and ▲ what is most needed in the current popular music performance industry.
Key discussion points included △ the transfer of performances from the outskirts of the metropolitan area due to the lack of performance venues in Seoul △ the new government's plan to follow through on promises related to the construction of large-scale performance venues △ the establishment of operational standards for venue rentals and noise control △ limitations on utilizing existing sports facilities for performances and △ the chaos in the market caused by ticket scalping and macro transactions, which were deeply discussed as structural improvement tasks across the entire performance industry.
The first session focused on the topic 'Can the lack of performance venues in Seoul and large-scale performance venues in the metropolitan area serve as alternatives?' with a presentation by Choi Yoon-soon, a director at Live Nation Korea, who pointed out the inadequacies in Korea's performance infrastructure compared to overseas cases and proposed the need for joint investment and institutional reform by the government and local governments.
In a subsequent panel discussion, reporter Seo Byeong-ki (Herald Economy) noted, 'K-POP has become globalized, but Korea's performance venues still fall short of global standards,' mentioning the lack of dedicated facilities and inadequate demand analysis. Kwon Min-joo, a specialist from Goyang City, suggested improvements in cultural policies centered on performances, citing examples of expanded transportation infrastructure alongside the limitations of sports facility-focused local government ordinances. Kim Hyun-mok, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, 'The government is committed to expanding infrastructure, including the construction of a 50,000-seat performance venue, and will engage with the KPOP Association regarding operational standards for venue rentals and noise.'
The second session, titled 'What is most needed in the current popular music performance industry?' discussed various issues within the industry, including the lack of performance venues, △ institutional barriers to utilizing existing sports facilities as performance venues, △ chaos within the ticket market caused by ticket scalping and macro transactions, and △ the need for a public-private cooperation system to attract performances. Substantial discussions and practical policy proposals and directions for improvement were actively shared through open discussions among field stakeholders, including media and performance planning companies.
In particular, regarding the ticket sales and transaction systems, Yoon Hee-jin, the Deputy Minister of Nol Universe, pointed out, 'Simply responding with technology has limitations, and without legislation, normalizing the secondary market will be difficult.' She emphasized the need for institutional arrangements to resolve issues related to ticket scalping and macro transactions. An official from YES24 added that 'the current refund policy allowing full refunds until the day before the performance is being exploited by scalpers,' highlighting the necessity for institutional improvements encompassing the entire transaction process, including ticket sales and refunds.
Kogi-ho, the Vice President of the KPOP Association, who served as the moderator, emphasized that 'performances are establishing themselves as an industry beyond simple cultural events,' calling for the allocation of roles, where the private sector ensures creativity and autonomy while the public focuses on coordination and support.
Lee Jong-hyun, the President of the KPOP Association, raised the question, 'Why do we only want to perform in Seoul?' emphasizing the need for cultural willingness from local government heads, flexible usage of facilities, and an active expansion of the vision for attracting performances. He also cited the example of Psy's national tour, stressing the urgency of improving the performance ecosystem and complementing local performance policies connected with tourism.
Based on the discussions held at this seminar, the KPOP Association plans to hold follow-up seminars and continue practical consultations with local governments and relevant industries.
Meanwhile, the Korea Popular Music Performance Industry Association is a registered non-profit under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, involving over 40 performance planning companies that host various popular music performances, including concerts, festivals, world tours, and performances in Korea.
[Photo] KPOP Association
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