JYP's Park Jin-young Tapped as Co-Chair for Presidential Committee on Cultural Exchange

JYP Entertainment's founder and chief producer, Park Jin-young, has been appointed as a co-chairperson for the Presidential Committee on Cultural Exchange, a body directly under the President's office.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the decision on the 9th, highlighting Park's role as a leading Korean artist who has championed the global expansion of K-pop. He expressed confidence that Park's involvement will foster greater enjoyment of Korean popular culture worldwide and encourage a vibrant cultural landscape in South Korea through exposure to diverse international arts.

Park Jin-young will serve alongside Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Yung-kyoun. The committee, newly established in response to the soaring global interest in Korean culture led by K-pop, aims to build a public-private collaboration framework to support the dissemination of not just music, but also film, drama, and games.

In a personal statement shared on social media, Park Jin-young confessed to his initial reservations about taking on a government role as an entertainment industry professional. However, he ultimately decided to accept the position, driven by the belief that "K-pop is currently facing a very special opportunity, and we must seize this chance."

Park, who debuted as a solo artist in 1994 and produced hits like 'Don't Leave Me' and 'She Was Pretty,' transformed into a producer and founded JYP Entertainment. He has since nurtured numerous iconic K-pop acts, including god, Rain, Wonder Girls, 2PM, Miss A, TWICE, ITZY, Day6, and Stray Kids.

Notably, Park Jin-young is recognized as a pioneer for his early efforts to enter the U.S. market even before the current K-pop Hallyu wave gained momentum. He recalled the Wonder Girls' U.S. debut, stating, "My dream remains the same: for K-pop to be loved all over the world."

He pledged to consolidate his on-site experiences into practical support systems and create more opportunities for junior artists. Park aims to elevate K-pop beyond a cultural export, envisioning it as a platform for global understanding and exchange.

Concluding his statement, Park requested public advice and support for this new endeavor, expressing his sincere gratitude to Minister Choi Yung-kyoun for joining him as co-chair, which gave him courage.

Park Jin-young debuted as a solo artist in 1994 with hits like 'Don't Leave Me' and 'Honey.' He founded JYP Entertainment in 2001 and has since produced numerous successful K-pop groups such as god, Rain, Wonder Girls, 2PM, TWICE, and Stray Kids. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in the globalization of K-pop and plays a central role in the development of Korean popular culture.