Park Jin-young defends K-pop festival FANOMENON at South Korea audit

Park Jin-young, co-chair of South Korea's presidential Popular Culture Exchange Committee and founder of JYP Entertainment, appeared as a witness at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on October 7 and rejected allegations that the global K-pop festival FANOMENON gives special treatment to four major agencies. Seoul Economic Daily reported that he contacted the National Assembly himself to appear as a witness rather than a reference, a status that carries the possibility of a perjury charge. Chosun Ilbo and Yonhap reported that he said he had never thought about working for the president or the Democratic Party. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]

FANOMENON combines a K-pop concert, a fandom awards ceremony and exhibition and experience programmes for K-culture companies, and is to be held for the first time in December 2027 at Seoul Arena in Changdong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, and KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Asia Economy reported. Yonhap reported that the name combines “fan” and “phenomenon,” reflecting an intent to treat fans as partners in spreading K-culture rather than as consumers. Government budget will not be directly invested; the event is to be financed by ticket sales, sponsorship and broadcast rights. [ 4 , 6 ]

Park said HYBE, SM, YG and JYP set up a dedicated corporation with equal capital and equal voting rights, and that it will hire separate staff for preparations and operations. He said the agencies could earn two or three times more by holding their own artists' concerts instead, and that he “begged” YG, SM and HYBE to take part, with losses in the hundreds of billions of won expected over the next few years. He described the project as being backed by years of sacrifice. [ 4 , 6 ]

The audit also covered trademarks. JYP filed for overseas trademarks for “FANOMENON” and the awards name “FANDEMONIUM,” raising the favouritism question. Park said JYP filed first because no dedicated organisation existed yet and to prevent another operator from preempting the marks, that the rights would not remain with his company, and that the approach was “not a normal method.” Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said JYP's domestic trademark stake would be transferred to the dedicated corporation and overseas rights jointly held by the government and the corporation once filing is complete, Asia Economy reported; Seoul Economic Daily reported Choi said on October 1 that the rights would be held 50-50 by a joint venture of the government and the four agencies. [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]

Separately, Park addressed criticism over about 2 million won a month in expenses he receives as co-chair, which Seoul Economic Daily reported conflicts with earlier descriptions of the role as unpaid. On SBS radio on October 6, Park said he did not know at first that he was receiving the money and could not refuse a structure he later learned was necessary, adding that he would rather return it because being doubted over sincerity makes the work difficult, but that not taking it could deter his successors. The report cited ruling-party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin saying on Facebook that she confirmed through government budget records that Park receives monthly expenses, overseas travel costs and staff support. [ 1 ]

Chosun Ilbo described the hearing as Park's audit debut, with opposition lawmakers pressing him and ruling-party members defending him, and reported him saying he works for the next generation rather than for President Lee. Business outlets led on his rebuttals, with Kukmin Ilbo headlining that the agencies would earn more without the event. Park said he would work to make public-private cooperation a good example. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]