Co-CEO Jang Yoon-jung of Kakao Entertainment has been named to the 2026 Billboard's Global Power Players.
U.S. music trade outlet Billboard on the 9th (local time) announced the 2026 Billboard's Global Power Players, including Kakao Enter Co-CEO Jang Yoon-jung. The list recognizes influential leaders outside the United States who are driving the global music market. Jang has been named five times since 2021 for contributions that expanded the reach of K-pop in the global music market.
Billboard highly rated Jang for diversifying artists' global activities, expanding music intellectual property (IP), and leading exchanges in the K-pop industry through collaboration with global partners. Kakao Enter said Jang has advanced Kakao Entertainment's music business capabilities—spanning planning, production, distribution, and streaming of music IP—to strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.
Artists from Kakao Entertainment labels and SM Entertainment are accelerating overseas activities, including major global festivals, world tours, and local album releases. Artists including boy band MONSTA X of Starship Entertainment, girl group IVE, and WOODZ of EDAM Entertainment have launched large-scale world tours this year.
Kakao Entertainment recently announced that Ko Jeong-hee has been nominated as the new co-CEO and said it will expand its global business centered on IP and bolster its platform capabilities. Jang plans to focus on securing mega IP and global expansion. He will also detail the global roadmap across all Kakao Entertainment business areas—music, story, and media—and actively pursue new business opportunities for future growth.
A company official said, "We will create powerful synergy by combining Co-CEO Jang Yoon-jung's broad global entertainment industry network and IP business know-how with the rich experience and insights of new Co-CEO nominee Ko Jeong-hee in information technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and platforms."