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Writer. Kim Da Un
Photos courtesy of. Korea Arts Management Service

Korea’s musical industry has rapidly grown by 20 percent annually over the last 20 years. Korea now has the fourth largest musical market in the world behind the United States, Britain and Japan. Behind this growth has been the Korea Arts Management Service, which has supported Korea’s musical ecosystem. Let’s take a look at the role of the Korea Arts Management Service, which supports the entire process from the birth of the musical itself to production exports.

A Reliable Companion

The Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) supports arts-related companies and the cultural ecosystem to help them grow. It contributes to the self-sufficiency of Korea’s arts scene by supporting all stages of the process, from when arts companies set down roots to when they begin tasting market success.

The same goes for musicals. The agency provides tailored roadmaps for specialists in training, creatives searching for local investment, producers planning overseas shows, and even people looking to localize their products overseas or form joint productions.

KAMS’ “K-Musical Market” has promoted exchanges between local and international musical producers, investors and overseas specialists since its first iteration in 2021. The “K-Musical Roadshow” showcases outstanding productions of original Korean musicals to industry professionals in international markets. Through this initiative, KAMS has presented original showcases of Korean productions in Shanghai, China (2016), Tokyo, Japan (2023) and Taipei, Taiwan (2024). Additionally, localized versions of Korean creative musicals have been introduced to audiences in Britain (2022, 2024) and the United States (2023), further expanding their reach across global markets.

KAMS thus provides multifaceted support to help Korea’s musical scene grow through various programs.

Noteworthy K-musicals

The “2024 K-Musical Market,” organized by KAMS, was held in London, Britain, on Nov. 4 and will be held in Taipei, Taiwan, on Nov. 13 and 14. Three productions were selected for London and five for Taipei. Each production presents unique themes and storytelling styles, offering engaging experiences.