39% of Total Music Industry Exports to Japan
Mrs. Yuko: "You, as Part of K-pop, Are Japan's Pride"
First Lady Kim Geon-hee and Yuko Kishida visited a K-pop entertainment company in downtown Seoul on the 6th, watched the choreography of trainees preparing for their debut in Japan, and encouraged them. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the afternoon of the 6th, First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited a K-pop entertainment company together with Yuko, the wife of the Japanese Prime Minister, to examine the global achievements and significance of the K-pop industry.
The meeting between First Lady Kim and Mrs. Yuko was their first in a year since last September, and according to Presidential Office spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon, they have met more than five times last year, building a close friendship as first ladies of Korea and Japan.
The two first ladies encouraged Japanese trainees training in Korea who dream of becoming K-pop idols, as well as group officials preparing for their debut in Japan, and discussed ways to promote cultural exchange between the two countries.
When First Lady Kim asked the trainees, "You came from Japan to Korea at a young age for your future; I am curious about your motivation," one trainee replied, "I was deeply moved after watching BTS's performance, which led me to come to Korea."
First Lady Kim said, "Traveling around the world, I truly realize the unimaginable popularity of K-pop," to which the entertainment company representative responded, "K-pop is based on a 'fandom business model.' Unlike North America, artists try to share the pains and joys of the times with their fans, forming fandoms, which we believe is the driving force behind the growth of the K-pop industry."
In line with the Korea-Japan summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the two first ladies participated in a friendly schedule visiting a K-pop site connecting Korea and Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]
At the end of the meeting, Mrs. Yuko said, "You, who are working as part of the globally popular K-pop, are Japan's pride," adding, "Thanks to your efforts, the people of Korea and Japan are opening their hearts and deepening their understanding of each other." Mrs. Yuko encouraged the trainees, saying, "The power of music is tremendous, and I support your dreams of becoming artists."
Looking at the attending trainees, First Lady Kim emphasized the active cultural exchange between Korea and Japan, saying, "Korea's music industry is growing very rapidly," and "39% of the total music industry exports go to Japan." She especially noted, "Korea and Japan share many cultural similarities, and if Korean and Japanese artists blend together, the power of Asian culture will become stronger," encouraging them by saying, "I support your dreams."
First Lady Kim and Mrs. Yuko toured internal facilities such as the choreography practice room, recording studio, and styling room, listening to explanations about album production and the training process for idol trainees.
At the conclusion of the event, First Lady Kim suggested, "As the global silver population increases, the music industry’s silver market will also grow significantly," and proposed, "It would be good for K-pop to pioneer the silver generation market based on an analog feel."
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