The Global Beat: Mapping the 3 Biggest K-Pop Markets Outside of Korea
- lewishooper1
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
From Japan's sales power to the US's influence and Southeast Asia's fandom wave, we discover the top three biggest K-pop markets outside of South Korea! Did we mention your country?
The Global Trendsetter - United States
The US is a global trendsetter when it comes to one of the world's biggest markets, and is the second-largest market for K-pop outside of Korea.
Success in the US is measured by breaking into mainstream charts like the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, which greatly impacts worldwide recognition. K-pop's focus on major stadium tours and increasing media visibility has solidified the US as a vital source of international influence.
The US is increasingly not just an export target but a site of K-pop production, with some groups being developed specifically with a global and American audience in mind.
Lewis Hooper has previously interviewed Clint Edwards, who is a journalist at FOX 13, a news station based in Seattle, Washington. They discussed why K-pop is becoming so successful in the US marketplace. Check out the article!
US Fan Reaction
The US K-pop fandom is intensely passionate, with many fans often seeing K-pop as a source of stress relief and a sense of belonging through their communities.
While many US fans—especially Gen Z—are active in streaming, generating viral content, and translating material, a significant portion of older fans are the most avid spenders on official albums, merchandise, and concert tickets, meaning that various K-pop acts strive to break into the US marketplace, allowing them to feel a sense of accomplishment within their careers.
Japan: The Financial Powerhouse
Japan, thanks to its close cultural proximity and established "idol culture," contributes to K-pop's commercial success.
Various K-pop companies have formed subgroups and conducted local debuts, including those with Japanese members, such as TWICE and IZ*ONE, to help bridge any cultural gaps. Once these subgroups began to establish themselves, Japanese versions of their hits on the Oricon charts helped cement their K-pop image.
Japanese Commercial Fandom
Japanese K-pop fandom is defined by its intense loyalty and high commercial spending, especially when it comes to physical albums and merch. Japan for K-pop is often seen as the genre's largest revenue source.
Japanese fan culture, known as 'Oshikatsu' (spending for a favorite person or thing), drives organized and significant purchases, with older fans in their 30s to 70s often being the most ardent spenders, and a favorite destination for K-pop acts to perform.
Following the K-Pop Trend - India, the emerging giant
India is rapidly gaining attention as a promising future market due to its massive, young, and digitally-savvy population. K-pop streaming in the country has surged dramatically in recent years, driven by growing internet penetration and smartphone adoption, and a growing middle class. Major Korean entertainment companies, such as HYBE, are beginning to invest in local strategies and establish branches in India to capitalize on this significant growth potential and potential dominance of this new market.
If the Galaxy Corporation is successful in their new venture within the Indian marketplace, it would mean that they are the second big Korean entertainment company to enter the Indian marketplace after HYBE.
With a population of 1.4 billion people, India represents an increasingly vital alternative for global growth. This expansion is also viewed by insiders as a step to demonstrate the company's global potential ahead of a rumored planned public offering in the coming year, which the Dojeon team is keeping its ears open for!
Fan Reactions in India to the second K-pop giant - Galaxy
Indian K-pop fans have reacted with excitement and hope to the news of Galaxy Corp.'s potential entry into their marketplace.
The interest is particularly high among V.I.P.s (G-Dragon's fanbase), who are hopeful that the reported inquiries about concert demand will lead to his long-awaited solo performance in India, and a longer standing within the Indian community and entertainment industry.
While excitement is high, some fan discussions touch on potential concerns, mainly regarding logistics and ticket pricing for future events. As we have seen in the US and other countries, many K-pop bands have failed to sell out their shows due to high ticket prices.
Final thoughts
With the Indian market becoming one of the largest in the world, thanks to the ever-growing middle-class population becoming more cultured than their predecessors, the Indian market offers a promising hub for K-pop artists. Recently, we have seen the expansion of Korean convenience stores and the news around HYBE planning to open a branch in India, and with big industry names such as these, it is no wonder that G-DRAGON wants to jump on the bandwagon in the early stages. The Dojeon team firmly believes that he will become successful in his venture, with the help of his fans, allowing him to thrive in a new market with a new cultural diversity.
With this expansion from the infamous G-DRAGON, what changes do you think it will bring to the Indian market? Comment below and let the Dojeon team know!