K-pop and K-drama aren’t just about entertainment anymore. Now, Korean entertainment is opening doors to real jobs and side hustles for fans around the world. What used to be just a fun hobby, like watching music videos or joining fan clubs, is now becoming a way for people to earn money and build careers.
An Interview with Saibu Baba, Founder of Korean Entertainment Jobs
In this interview, we look at how fans turn their love for K-pop and K-dramas into exciting opportunities. From starting job boards to blogging and writing for big platforms, these fans show that being part of the K-pop world can be more than just a passion—it can be a path to work you love.
“Please tell us briefly about yourself.”
I am a digital entrepreneur and founder of koreanentertainmentjobs.com, a platform that brings Kpop and Kdrama job opportunities to fans and professionals looking to break into the industry.
“How did you start turning your K-pop fandom into a career path?”
A few years ago, all I did as a K-pop fan was stream music videos, collect photocards, and debate comeback concepts online with strangers. I never imagined that my passion would one day lead me to explore K-pop jobs and career opportunities.
Over time, I came to realize that beyond the fandom, music, and performances, K-pop is a global phenomenon creating jobs in many fields.
“What kind of K-pop jobs are creating the most opportunities for fans today?”
One of the biggest job creation activities in Kpop is global events. The K-pop Events Market was valued at USD 8.9 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 20.5 Billion by 2030. Today, a lot of fans are no longer just supporters; they are becoming key players in the industry.
In all of these shifts, three important questions emerge:
- How are K-pop fans transforming their passion into real, sustainable, remote careers?
- Who are the people using their fandom to create side hustle opportunities?
- And what are their stories?
“What inspired you to create a Korean Entertainment Jobs, and how does it help fans turn their passion into income?”
Like a lot of us that started on this fandom part, I was just a fan.
I do everything expected of a fan: I love K-pop, watched every comeback, and joined fan communities. I still do them, but with a money-earning twist, and that is turning my passion for the industry into a money-earning venture.
This was the birth of our Korean entertainment jobs board. Ultimately, we want to help fans find real jobs in the Korean entertainment industry, whether in-house or remote.
We are also building Hallyu Hustle, where we seek to provide K-pop & K-drama fans the best tools and resources to make a side income from their fandom. What we are saying is that being a fan can be more than just supporting idols. It can be a career, too.
“Can you share an example of a fan who successfully turned their K-pop or K-drama passion into a career?”
Beyond building a business around their fandom, some Kpop stans are using their knowledge in areas such as blogging and social media management to find jobs and create side hustles.
One such person is Sophia Aadil, co-creator of the Korean entertainment review platform dramacaps, who turned her love for K-dramas and K-pop into a thriving Kdrama review blog.
According to Sophia, her K-drama fandom helped her develop niche expertise, which has opened doors to collaborations, freelance opportunities, and even industry events.
Among many other things, she and her colleagues at dramacaps are responsible for reviewing Korean dramas, helping other Kpop and Kdrama websites with social media management and content creation, and maintaining a strong online presence.
“How are K-pop fans breaking into writing careers with major entertainment news platforms?”
Do a simple Google search for keywords around Kpop bloggers and writers, and you have a ton of results. Out there, there are lots of K-pop news platforms that bring the latest in the industry to their readers.
As a result, some fans who once spent hours discussing their favorite groups online have turned their passion into a career in writing for these news platforms. These Korean entertainment bloggers and journalists cover everything from comeback announcements to deep-dive industry analyses.
They contribute to fan sites, major media outlets, and personal blogs, building a platform that keeps fans informed while earning from their content.
“What are some career paths and strategies for fans to succeed in the K-pop industry?”
There are so many possibilities for K-Pop lovers out there. Fans are becoming content creators, social media managers, translators, event organizers, and even stylists or journalists specializing in the culture surrounding Hallyu.
As to how much that brings in, we haven’t gotten close enough to know, but we can see progress. Some fans monetize their blogs and YouTube channels, while others work for entertainment companies as employees or freelancers.
The key is to leverage your fandom into a marketable skill—writing, video editing, or marketing. Also, you must start small, see what works, and scale afterward. Whether blogging, making videos, or curating fan experiences, build a body of work showcasing your skills.
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