SM Entertainment C.E.O. suggests virtual country with citizens of global K-pop fans

SM Entertainment C.E.O. Lee Soo-man (front row, center) posing at a forum hosted by Korea Westernpower held in Anmyeon Island, South Korea, on June 29 [SM Entertainment]

Korea's top talent agency SM Entertainment is poised to establish a micronation dominated by SM artists.

For those who think SM is going political, the firm has reportedly declared that it will create a country without boarders, land and colors; but the only requirement to join this wonderland is to love and enjoy K-pop.

"In the near future, everyone will be born with two citizenships: the one you receive from the country you were born in, and the other one from what's called a 'virtual nation,'" SM Entertainment C.E.O. Lee Soo-man said during his speech at a conference hosted by Korean Westernpower in Anmyeon Island, South Korea, on June 29.

His remark came when explaining the fast emergence of cultural contents, social networking services and cloud services that allow the changing concept of nation and citizenship.

f(x) Amber (left), Krystal (second to left), Victoria (second to right) and Luna (right) performing at the sixth Mnet 20's Choice Awards on June 28 [CJ E&M]

The key word in his speech was 'Hallyu,' or the Korean Wave, the term used to refer to the increasing accessibility of Korean culture to people around the world, and vice versa.

"We have SM Town citizens living in Africa, Latin America and even in Arab. South Korea may not be formed of 50 million citizens but billions of people spread around the globe."

The producer of Girls' Generation, BoA and Super Junior, added that he will make this micronation more official by announcing it on the opening day of the third SM Entertainment world tour concert, August 18.

"August 18 will be remembered in the history of the global entertainment business. Over 40,000 people will be there including thousands of international SM Town presidents," Lee said, explaining that he will declare the establishment of the virtual nation and grant citizenship to people who attend the event.

Big Bang's Taeyang (left), Seungri (second to left), G-Dragon (center), T.O.P (second to right) and Daesung (right) [YG Entertainment]

Though it may not be as grand as creating a world where everything is about K-pop music and shows, other talent agencies here have also been stressing the increasing bond between Hallyu and other irrelevant industries.

CJ E&M, the largest entertainment and media conglomerate in Korea, has recently announced that it is expanding its business collaborations with Seoul-based automobile firm KIA, in a bid to easier the access of music and media services in people's daily lives.

Meanwhile, YG Entertainment, one of the three major entertainment agencies alongside SM and JYP Entertainment, is stepping into global fashion business, hand in hand with Samsung's textile subsidiary firm, Cheil Industries.

Lee Soo-man is one of the figures who have contributed significantly to the growth of Korea's entertainment market and its outreach to global markets since establishing one of the top Korean agencies in 1995.

It is no exaggeration to say that the singer-turned-entrepreneur put up a large part in coining the term 'Hallyu,' not to mention its fast adaptation to the changing global environment spurred by technological innovation and market conditions.

SM Entertainment is currently managing the careers of top Korean idol groups including Super Junior, f(x), SHINee, TVXQ! and Girls' Generation.

※ Any copying, republication or redistribution of 10Asia's content is expressly prohibited without prior consent of 10Asia. Copyright infringement is subject to criminal and civil penalties.

Editor : Monica Suk monicasuk@