Global Musical Industry Leaders Gather for K-Musical Market from June 2 to 6

The 'K-Musical Market,' hosted and organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Arts Management Support Center, will be held from June 2 to June 6 at various venues in the Daehakro area of Seoul, including the Link Art Center Payco Hall, Theater On, and Art Korea Lab.

Marking its fifth year, the K-Musical Market brings together key industry players such as domestic and international musical creators, producers, production companies, investors, and venture capitalists. Last year, the event reached its largest scale ever, with approximately 2,500 participants, including 45 international guests from eight countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Japan, further strengthening its global presence.

This year, the event will provide a networking platform for the overseas expansion and investment attraction of K-Musicals, with the participation of representatives from public venues such as the National Theatre in the United Kingdom and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in Japan, as well as private sector representatives from English-speaking countries, including Ambassador Theatre Group and Concord Theatricals. Executives from major Japanese production companies such as Shiki Theatre Company, Toho Co., Ltd., and Horipro will also take part.

The K-Musical Market features a variety of programs, including pitching sessions, showcases, and academic sessions. The pitching program introduces domestic original musicals, presenting 12 works in progress and 10 completed works through 30-minute presentations, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions for each piece. This year, a global pitching session in collaboration with Japan's Emergency Network will introduce around four Japanese works as well.

The showcase will feature eight original Korean musicals premiering domestically, with each work presented through a staged reading or key scenes lasting up to 40 minutes. As in the previous year, 12 works will be selected through a review process from the pitching and showcase programs to be supported for participation in the 'K-Musical Roadshow in Japan and New York' and Japan's 'Global Songwriter Showcase.'

An academic program to share information on the musical industry is also planned. The opening conference, themed 'Changes in Success Factors According to Global Musical Market Trends,' will feature presentations by Sean Flahaven, CEO of Concord Theatricals in the United States; Erica Schwartz, Vice President of Ambassador Theatre Group; Daisuke Yokoyama, Executive Director of Planning at Japan's ePlus; and Jia Xuening, Vice President of China's Starspace. In the following special lecture sessions, Rachel Sussman, producer of The Business of Broadway in the United States, will present on 'K-Musicals' Entry into English-Speaking Markets,' and Alistair Smith, editor-in-chief of The Stage in the United Kingdom, will give a lecture on 'West End Trends.' In the English-speaking conference, three producers from the UK, US, and Canada will discuss 'Musical Creation and International Collaboration in English-Speaking Countries,' while the subsequent Asia Musical Forum will see six producers from Korea, China, and Japan exploring 'One Asia Musical Market and Collaboration.'

One-on-one business meetings aimed at generating tangible business outcomes will also be held. A total of 340 meetings are scheduled through online pre-matching and on-site matching with pre-announced participants, facilitating active discussions on co-productions, licensing agreements, and investment attraction.