A powerhouse of cultural export, South Korea’s music industry continues to cement its position as a global economic force, with export values surging to approximately $560 million in early 2025. This remarkable figure continues the strong upward trajectory from 2023, when the country’s music exports reached approximately $1.2 billion, outpacing growth in many competing global music markets.
K-pop remains the undisputed engine driving these exports, blending pop, hip-hop, and electronic genres into a globally appealing cultural product. About half of respondents across 26 surveyed countries in 2023 cited K-pop as very popular in their regions, with acts like BTS and SEVENTEEN contributing considerably to revenue streams. Among the industry players, HYBE’s revenue significantly outperforms its competitors, largely due to BTS’s global popularity. Digital singles such as aespa’s “Supernova” have dominated both domestic and international streaming charts, reflecting the genre’s cross-border appeal.
K-pop’s fusion of musical styles continues to captivate global audiences, with megastars generating substantial revenue across international markets.
Japan continues to rank as South Korea’s largest music export market, followed by other Asian nations, though Western markets including the United States and Europe show accelerating growth. The expansion into new territories across Latin America and the Middle East demonstrates the diversification of Korean music’s global footprint.
“We’re seeing unprecedented penetration in markets that were previously considered peripheral,” noted one industry analyst.
Despite this international success, domestic consumption patterns reveal smartphones as the primary device for music access, with YouTube recently surpassing local platform Melon as the preferred streaming service. Ballads and K-pop consistently rank as the most preferred music genres among South Korean listeners in 2024. Physical album sales remain surprisingly robust domestically, with SEVENTEEN’s “SPILL THE FEELS” exemplifying continued consumer demand for tangible music products. Korean artists have increasingly diversified their income through sync deals with international film and game studios, creating additional revenue streams beyond traditional album sales and performances.
The economic impact extends beyond direct sales, supporting multi-layered value chains in production, distribution, live performances, and merchandising. The industry’s success can be attributed to strategic audience targeting through sophisticated digital marketing campaigns that connect with global fan communities. Per-capita spending on recorded music in South Korea increased to $20.36 in 2024, indicating strong consumer engagement.
Government initiatives further bolster this growth through supportive policies and trade agreements that facilitate access to international markets, turning cultural exports into a considerable economic driver for the nation.
