I want to talk about where K-pop’s Big 4 labels (HYBE, SM, JYP, and YG) actually have a presence outside Korea, and what that means if you’re job-hunting.

Then, of course, I’ll add some job opportunities I’ve come across this week, from around the Korean entertainment industry.

HYBE

HYBE has been one of the most aggressive about expanding outside South Korea. Take HYBE America for instance. It has been operational for a few years now, and if you want proof it's actually working, look at KATSEYE. They're the clearest sign yet that HYBE's US strategy is paying off: a group built and trained on the K-pop system, based stateside, and actually charting.

Last year, HYBE opened its fifth international office in India, launching around September 2025 as part of what Chairman Bang Si-hyuk calls a “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy.

Add Japan, Latin America (since 2023), and China (since 2024), and HYBE’s footprint is probably the widest of any Korean label right now. Strategically as a job seeker, this signifies the presence of more entry points. Check out their respective career pages for their latest openings.

Latest Jobs at Hybe India | Latest Jobs from Hybe America

SM Entertainment

SM Entertainment is one of the original Big 4, and its footprint is expanding through publishing, artist management, and more.

That’s where KREATION Music Rights (KMR) comes in, SM’s music publishing subsidiary, which is also backed by Kakao.

KMR opened its European office in Stockholm back in December 2023, and it’s quietly become the largest songwriter-recruiting operation of its kind in K-pop, with hundreds of composers signed across Korea, Europe, and the US.

This has opened up opportunities for roles in publishing, A&R, and songwriting .

Beyond KMR, SM has built one of the widest international footprints.

• In Indonesia, a joint venture with Trans Media (CT Corp) opened a Jakarta office in 2019.

• In 2022, SM set up a Southeast Asian HQ in Singapore to manage joint ventures across Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

• Japan is SM's oldest overseas market, dating to 2001.

• Overall, SM's international branches are probably the most diverse entry point among the Big 4 if you're eyeing roles around regional ops, licensing, or retail over pure artist management.

JYP

JYP has offices in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Latin America, alongside its US arm. JYP Japan is the strongest of the bunch.

For JYP China, it runs through joint ventures like NCC Entertainment and Onecead, both partnered with Tencent. JYP USA has had a rockier history (it shut down once before reopening in 2022), so it's smaller and less predictable than the other branches, but still active with GIRLSET.

My Key takeway for job seekers

• JYP Japan is the strongest of the bunch, producing hit groups like NiziU and NEXZ, so it’s worth watching for roles in artist management

• For JYP China, it’s useful if you’re interested in China-facing roles or joint venture operations

YG Entertainment

YG has branch offices in Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the US, though its footprint is smaller and quieter than the rest of the Big 4. YG Japan is the strongest of the bunch.

YG Hong Kong and YG USA remain the smallest and least active branches among the Big 4’s overseas offices.

A few takeaways, for what they’re worth:

• HYBE and SM Entertainment currently have the widest global footprint, so it likely offers the most entry points if you’re trying to break in.

• Publishing and A&R (like KMR) are an underrated lane. They are less competitive, but they are growing field.

• Most of these companies are still configuring their overseas operations as they go, so job structures and titles can shift quickly. That means you need to keep checking back.

This Week’s Latest Korean Entertainment Jobs

1. Coordinator, Financial Analyst
   Company: CJ ENM
   Location: Culver City / Los Angeles, CA, US
   Summary: Supports corporate finance through budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and monthly close reporting. APPLY

2. HxG Business Operations Intern
   Company: HYBE America
   Location: Santa Monica, CA
   Summary: Supports KATSEYE’s touring, D2C, and reporting workflows across BizOps, Marketing, and Finance teams. APPLY

3. Marketing Intern
   Company: HYBE America
   Location: Santa Monica, CA
   Summary: Tracks and analyzes performance data across music releases, campaigns, and digital platforms. APPLY

4. Associate, Logistics
   Company: HYBE America
   Location: Santa Monica, CA
   Summary: Manages warehouse, freight, and customs operations across HYBE’s multi-channel merchandise business. APPLY

5. Business & Operations Director
   Company: HYBE America
   Location: Santa Monica, CA
   Summary: Leads cross-functional business operations supporting artist development, legal affairs, and financial planning. APPLY

6. Executive Assistant, Legal & Publicity
   Company: HYBE America
   Location: Santa Monica, CA
   Summary: Provides dual executive support to the General Counsel and EVP of Communications. APPLY

7. Senior Data Engineer
   Company: HYBE America
   Location: Santa Monica, CA (also open to Mexico/Colombia)
   Summary: Builds and maintains HYBE’s centralized cloud data platform across labels, marketing, and distribution. APPLY

8. Business Development Manager – Partnerships
   Company: HYBE India
   Location: Mumbai
   Summary: Drives partnership and business development strategy for HYBE’s India operations.
   URL: https://careers.hybecorp.com/en/o/226618

9. Head, Training & Development
   Company: HYBE India
   Location: Mumbai
   Summary: Leads artist training and development programs for HYBE India.
   URL: https://careers.hybecorp.com/en/o/220654

10. Content Manager
    Company: HYBE India
    Location: Mumbai
    Summary: Oversees content strategy and production for HYBE’s India-based artists and projects.
    URL: https://careers.hybecorp.com/en/o/219746

All over the world, the K-culture market is growing, and so there has never been a more exciting time to build a career in this space.

• What’s your background?

• What kind of role are you actively looking for?

Let me know in the comments below! I read every single one and would love to tailor our upcoming job roundups to the specific roles this community wants to see.

See you in the next edition and please don’t forget to share our newsletter with anyone looking for career opportunities and tips in the Korean entertainment space.