South Korea officially launched its presidential Pop Culture Exchange Commission on Oct. 1, naming J.Y. Park, JYP Entertainment’s chief creative officer, as co-chair.
Before the ceremony, President Lee Jae-myung presented Park with an appointment letter. Park will serve alongside Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young, helping steer cultural exchange and growth across related industries.
Lee urged Park to act as a bridge linking Korea and the world, calling for expanded exchange and collaboration that also fuels industry growth. He pledged to uphold an arm’s-length approach―support without interference―so on-the-ground creativity can thrive, and emphasized a “one-team” public-private platform that taps the private sector’s expertise.
Stray Kids capped the launch with a showstopping finale that underscored K-pop’s global clout.
President Lee introduced the group as “the pride of our culture,” noting they became the first act in the Billboard 200’s 70-year history to notch seven consecutive No. 1s, further igniting the crowd.
The eight-piece stormed the stage with an epic intro threaded with traditional Korean motifs, then reimagined their signature hits "Thunderous" and "God’s Menu" in a gugak-inspired arrangement. The rock-solid live vocals and commanding presence had even global viewers tuning into the livestream buzzing.
“We sincerely congratulate the launch of the Pop Culture Exchange Commission. It’s an honor for Stray Kids to be part of this moment,” the members said. They then teamed with taekwondo demonstration team K-TIGERS and traditional lion-masked performers for a joint performance of "CEREMOMY," the title track from "KARMA"―the group’s seventh Billboard 200 No. 1―delivering a grand, fitting send-off for Korea’s next chapter in pop culture.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)