The Orchard is excited to announce the appointment of Jeeyoung Lee as Head of South Korea, Country Manager. Lee is based in Seoul and reports to Prashant Bahadur, EVP Head of Strategy.
Lee will lead The Orchard’s Korean business operations, implementing the company’s full-service global solution for monetization of a pivotal market in the Asia-Pacific region. She will oversee label management, release strategy, global distribution, and regional support efforts, as well as drive new business. Lee brings nearly 20 years of leadership and professional expertise in strategy, sales, content distribution, management, and marketing from a range of prominent entertainment companies. She most recently served as General Manager, Warner Bros. Discovery and SVP Content Strategy APAC;, and General Manager Japan & Korea, Discovery Inc. Global Head for Music Business at CJ E&M are prior roles.
Bahadur said, “We are excited to further develop operations in Korea with Jeeyong leading the team. Her strategic business acumen and extensive network coupled with a deep understanding of Korea’s culture will be invaluable in growing The Orchard’s value proposition in the region. As global appetites for Korean music increase, she will play an integral role in connecting independent Korean labels and artists with audiences by engaging fans in innovative and sustainable ways.”
Lee added, “Returning to the music industry, a field I have always been passionate about, fills me with immense joy. The Orchard’s commitment to empowering Korean artists and labels aligns perfectly with my vision for the industry. I look forward to leveraging my experience and working with the talented team here to expand our footprint and drive success for our partners in Korea and beyond.”
Additionally, Sungho “Jake” Bae was recently named Director, Asia Pacific Region, Artist and Label Services. Bae, also based in Seoul, implements release strategy throughout the APAC region, with a concentration on cross-country marketing. Bae previously held leadership positions at Spotify and Big Hit Music, and is well interconnected across the music sector in Korea. During his tenure at Big Hit, Bae worked closely with The Orchard on breaking BTS to global audiences, resulting in 5 consecutive #1 albums in the U.S.; 1.8+ billion streams, and the first South Korean act to win IFPI’s Global Recording Artist of the Year for two consecutive years.
The role of John Park, New York-based SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development, has been expanded to focus on business opportunities in Korea. He will work closely with Lee on new signings and partnerships, as well as global strategy.
The Orchard’s robust Korean roster, reflective of multiple genres, includes Starship Entertainment (IVE, Cravity), ABYSS Company (BamBam, SUNMI), Regime International (DPR IAN, DPR ARTIC, DPR CREAM), Eric Nam, Modhaus (tripleS, ARTMS), and Culture Think (RapBeat).
