Billboard is gearing up to launch its first print issue of Billboard Korea, and to celebrate, Billboard U.S. President Mike Van held a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday (April 15) to commemorate the expansion and express excitement over highlighting the flourishing Korean music scene.
“At Billboard, we recognize the significance of K-pop and K-music as not just musical genres, but as cultural movements that continue to transcend borders and redefine the landscape of the global entertainment industry,” Van said during his speech. “With our dedicated team of journalists and music enthusiasts from both the U.S. and Korea, we are poised to further amplify the beauty of K-music through Billboard’s industry-leading platforms and content. From our industry-leading online platforms to engaging live events, Billboard Korea will serve as a cultural ambassador and the destination for all things K-pop, K-music, and K-culture.”
Billboard Korea Volume 1 is scheduled for release in June, which will amplify 100 K-pop stars selected by Billboard.
“This inaugural volume will serve as a platform to showcase K-pop stars not only in Korea, but also worldwide,” said Yuna Kim, publisher and CEO of Billboard Korea, during the press conference. “Additionally, as part of our launch efforts, we are planning to host one of the many events organized by the headquarters in Korea this year. Currently, we are collaborating with the headquarters’ content team and editors to brainstorm various ideas. We plan to publish monthly digital covers featuring K-pop stars in collaboration with the headquarters.”
Billboard Korea adds to the list of the publication’s international editions, including Billboard Japan, Billboard Arabia, Billboard Español, Billboard Brasil and others.