TikTok's contribution to K-Culture is expected to generate approximately 40.64 trillion won by 2030, according to a new report.
On August 26, TikTok held a press conference titled 'K-Culture on TikTok' at the Ellyena Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, where it unveiled the report 'K-Culture on TikTok: Driving Global Economic Impact,' conducted in collaboration with global management consulting firm Kearney.
The report indicates that the interest and engagement of global users translate into increased sales, production, and employment for Korean companies.
TikTok forecasts that the economic impact of K-Culture will rise by 29% from 31.37 trillion won in 2026 to 40.64 trillion won in 2030. Consumer spending is expected to grow from approximately 10.75 trillion won to about 13.92 trillion won during the same period.
This consumer expenditure is also projected to have a ripple effect on domestic production and employment. By 2030, the domestic production impact is estimated to reach around 26.72 trillion won, with job creation effects amounting to approximately 118,865 jobs.
By industry, K-Beauty is expected to have the largest direct economic impact at 3.27 trillion won by 2030. K-Tourism is projected to grow by 44% compared to 2026, marking the highest growth rate, and is expected to create around 30,384 jobs, indicating significant employment effects among the six sectors analyzed.
The survey included 3,300 consumers aged 16 to 49 from ten countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Japan. It combined survey responses with economic impact analysis, focusing on six sectors: K-Pop, media/IP (content), beauty, food, fashion, and tourism.
Jung Jae-hoon, head of TikTok Korea, stated, "This report demonstrates that TikTok is contributing to the global spread of Korean culture and creating tangible economic value beyond being just a content platform. We will continue to play a role as a partner supporting the growth opportunities generated by K-Culture alongside creators, users, brands, and the broader Korean industry."
Meanwhile, TikTok is also expanding its investments to connect the global spread of K-Culture with actual content and business ecosystems. In April, it announced plans to invest over $50 million in the Korean content ecosystem this year to enhance creator support and content partnerships. During the same month, it operated a K-Beauty lounge at the Coachella festival in the U.S., featuring around 500 global creators to connect Korean beauty brand product experiences with content creation and TikTok Shop commerce.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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