Billboard Korea Launches with Biographical Dictionary of the Top K-Pop Artists

Billboard's international network is growing stronger.

As K-pop spreads its influence worldwide, Billboard has introduced a new international edition to cover the music and industry of South Korea.

Billboard Korea officially launched on August 27 at the Billboard K POWER 100 event in Seoul, celebrating the music industry of South Korea and Asia. The event was also the launch of the first annual edition of the K-Pop Artist Biographical Dictionary, showcasing K-music artists who have made significant impacts in the global market over the past year. It's available for order here.

More than 30 acts came out to the event, which is another extension of the influential Billboard Power 100 after Billboard Canada's inaugural Power Players event in June.

Billboard President Mike Van and Editorial Director Hannah Karp made the trip. Musicians included chart-topping favourites like FIFTY FIFTY, The Boyz, BamBam and more, while Brazilian star Luísa Sonza also made the trip to Korea for the first time. Filipino idol groups SB19 and BINI were there too, recognizing the successful implementation of the K-Music production system in the global market, which shows one of the ways the culture is spreading even beyond Korea.

“Our goal is to expand K-pop and K-culture worldwide and leverage our role as cultural ambassadors to make a positive impact,” said Billboard Korea publisher Kim Yuna.

In Canada, K-pop is a huge and growing genre, with top stars like ATEEZ playing regularly in markets like Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. Artists like Stray Kids and LE SSERAFIM have also made an impact on the Billboard Canadian charts.

Hannah Karp, Yuna Kim & Mike VanBillboard Korea

The K-Pop Artist Biographical Dictionary is a companion to the inaugural K-Pop Artist 100, a project that ranks Korean artists based on activity on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard Boxscore (touring) data. The list is a definitive guide to an increasingly influential industry, including worldwide stars like BTS, ITZY, ATEEZ, BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, NewJeans, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, LE SSERAFIM and more.

As we've seen with the Punjabi Wave's simultaneous popularity in India and Canada, genres are crossing borders and becoming increasingly global. Billboard Korea joins Billboard's growing international network to cover these musical phenomena from the ground level.

Head here to read more about the inaugural honorees at Billboard K POWER 100.