Chair Knows, Understands Contract…Park Jin-young's 'Fanomenon' One Year On

Park Jin-young holds two titles. One is co-chair of the Presidential Committee for Korean Wave Culture Exchange, a government post receiving ministerial treatment, and the other is the largest shareholder and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of JYP Entertainment. On October 1, 2025, when the committee announced its launch, the domestic trademark for 'Fanomenon,' the committee's flagship K-pop festival project, was filed solely under the second title's company name. According to Suwon Ilbo's verification of patent office records in South Korea and Japan, between that day and two weeks later, 48 applications were filed in JYP's name domestically, 11 in the US in November, and 11 in Japan in March of this year, with the Ministry of Culture added to the domestic applicant 194 days later. One year later, at a National Assembly audit on the 7th, Chair Park directly explained the filing circumstances, admitting "there are certainly irregularities." However, regarding the contract to return the trademark to the nation, he said he "does not know" who wrote it. His answer left the audit chamber with one man knowing about the decision to take, yet not knowing about the procedure to return.

Application on launch day, half transfer six months later

The patent office record shows a more detailed timeline than what emerged at the audit. On October 1, 2025, the day the committee's launch was announced, JYP filed 10 'fanomenon' trademarks, followed by 11 the next day, 9 on the 14th, and 18 on the 16th. A total of 48 applications covering English 'FANOMENON' and Korean '패노메논' across 11 categories including cosmetics, electronic devices, precious metals, stationery, bags, kitchenware, clothing, toys, advertising, telecommunications, and performances. On November 14, the same 11 categories with 11 applications were filed at the US Patent Office under the sole name 'JYP ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION.' This was during Chair Park's business trip to the US. On March 23 this year, 11 applications were filed at the Japan Patent Office under the sole name 'JYP Entertainment Corporation,' with registration beginning June 4, and the 10th registration completing on October 2, five days before the audit. In Mexico, 22 applications for the awards ceremony name 'Pandemonium' were filed, with 9 registered.

The return timeline was slower. The Ministry of Culture and JYP signed the 'Partial Transfer Agreement of Trademark Application Rights' on April 1 this year, and the patent office record for 'Notice of Change in Rights Relationship' was processed on April 13, adding the Ministry of Culture as an applicant. For 194 days after the first application, the national project's name remained solely under JYP's ownership. Even then, only 50% domestic stake was transferred, while overseas trademarks and merchandise trademarks remain attributed to JYP under the contract. The final rights holders for seven domestic registrations remain joint between the Ministry of Culture and JYP, and on September 30 and October 1, just before the audit, four more applications were published.

The committee first publicly disclosed plans to transfer to a dedicated corporation after controversy erupted following TV Chosun's report last month. On September 24, the committee stated in explanatory materials that "to rapidly secure and preempt brand rights, JYP proceeded with preliminary applications immediately after the launch event," and "the remaining stake held by JYP will also be fully transferred to a dedicated corporation to be established for the main event execution." However, according to Rep. Bae's confirmation with the committee, there were no separate contracts or concrete transfer plans regarding the dedicated corporation. He said he received the response that "no contracts regarding the dedicated corporation exist whatsoever." The government has no mechanism in the contract to force JYP to transfer.

Why is this a problem?

The value of the name Fanomenon was created by the nation, not JYP. A presidential committee announced it as a national project, the government supports immigration, safety, and tourism, the next year's budget includes 15 billion won for linked projects, and public facilities like Seoul Arena and Kintex serve as venues. The trademark holder of that name determines who can sell merchandise and hold performances, can receive royalties, and can prevent usage. If overseas trademarks are solely in JYP's name, the 2028 Los Angeles Festival name belongs to JYP, not the Korean government. And the largest shareholder of that company sits in the chair of the committee position that decides the business design, participants, and trademark handling. Had this been a festival run by four entertainment companies without government involvement, it would have been an ordinary business transaction, but because it is a national project, it becomes a conflict of interest.

Company error or chair's judgment?

The issue is whether this was a mistake by JYP's operational team or Chair Park's own judgment. The audit response points to the latter. Chair Park acknowledged all facts of the application and directly explained the reason. His concern was that "after the announcement, third parties might preempt trademark rights, so we applied first," and that "overseas applications involve considerable costs and there was no dedicated organization available immediately, so we utilized company infrastructure." He also said "we tried to do well with good intentions, so we took this approach." This explanation could not have come if it was something done without knowledge.

The dates and scale point the same direction. The US application was made during his business trip period, and the scale of 48 domestic and 22 Mexico applications goes beyond defensive preemption. Most tellingly, the Japan application date is March 23 this year. That is 13 days after March 10 when he announced his resignation as JYP inside director saying he would "concentrate on national duties," four days before the shareholders meeting that confirmed his resignation, and nine days before signing the transfer agreement with the Ministry of Culture. While taking on the appearance of a public official, company name applications continued, and 10 of those 11 Japan applications completed registration under JYP's sole name before the audit.

Meanwhile, the points where he claimed not to know were concentrated on the return side. When asked who wrote the draft contract, he said "I don't know which side prepared the draft," and regarding the structure where JYP holds all overseas merchandise trademarks, he said "that should not happen." Rep. Bae pointed out "this is the rights contract for the core project you're promoting as co-chair, yet you don't even know who the author is." Regarding the monthly directorial performance allowance of approximately 2 million won attached to the position he had stated was unpaid volunteer work, he apologized saying he "did not know." The decision to secure rights in the company's name was made by the chair, while the contract to transfer those rights to the nation and dedicated corporation was not reviewed by the chair.

Park's "sacrifice," Bae's "special favor"

The business structure faces the same question. Fanomenon is led by a joint venture established by four entertainment companies—Hive, SM, JYP, and YG—with equal capital and voting rights, and there was no open bidding or public recruitment. Rep. Bae called it a "Daejangdong of the culture industry," asking "should these four companies monopolize this?" Chair Park countered that "if the representative singers of the four companies don't do this and hold separate performances instead, they would generate double or triple the revenue," saying "immediate losses in the hundreds of billions of won would occur," and Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young added "the four major entertainment companies are not entering with any ulterior motive." Both arguments are simultaneously valid. The fact that the four companies earn less money and that participation opportunities went first to only the four companies are different issues. It has not been disclosed how the 100% profit reinvestment and 30% restriction on performers from the four companies' rosters that Minister Choi revealed are embedded in bylaws or contracts.

Half of 1 trillion won effect is Goyang, rights are Seoul

Half of the venue is in Gyeonggi Province. Fanomenon's first event will be held from December 2-12, 2027 at Seoul Arena in Changdong, Seoul and Kintex Hall 2 in Goyang. Seoul Arena will host the fandom awards and headliner performances, while Kintex will handle festival-style performances and exhibitions on film, games, webtoons, food, and beauty, fan meetings, esports competitions, and business forums. The estimated 520,000 visitors, 200,000 foreigners, and 1 trillion won economic effect are estimates by the Korean Culture and Tourism Research Institute, but Rep. Lee Jong-moon pointed out at the audit that this is an intermediate estimate that did not subtract duplicate visitors, and Minister Choi responded he would report refined research results in the second half. While stating the government is not allocating budget to the event itself, the next year's budget includes approximately 15 billion won for linked projects under the name of tourism promotion and small business support.

Goyang City and Gyeonggi Province, which will bear half the 1 trillion won effect, have yet to publicly disclose their roles or signed agreements on this project. The name and rights are with JYP in Samseong-dong, Seoul and the four major entertainment companies' corporation, while exhibition halls, traffic, and safety fall to local government. Rep. Jin Sun-mi's inquiry requesting a structure allowing mid-sized entertainment companies and local governments to participate is no stranger to Gyeonggi Province's position.

Using private funds is not an answer to conflict of interest

Evidence of seeking private gain did not emerge at the audit. Chair Park said "rather, we spent a lot of private funds," and "at any rate, these trademarks will not remain with our company." However, an explanation of intention does not absolve responsibility. He stepped down as inside director in March but kept his titles as largest shareholder and CCO, and after that, company name overseas applications did not stop. Knowing it was abnormal, he held domestic trademarks solely for over half a year, and overseas trademarks remain that way. Correction began only after media reports and the audit. Managing conflicts of interest is not a matter for the company's legal team but the duty of the person holding public office.

At the end of the audit, Chair Park promised to arrange conditions for complete transfer of trademark rights, public interest contracts for the dedicated corporation, and accounting and minutes procedures, and Culture Committee Chair Jeon Jae-su urged completion of these in writing. Promises were already made at the launch event a year ago. Three things are now needed. Public disclosure with dates of the transfer agreement where JYP hands over all domestic and overseas trademarks to the dedicated corporation or government without compensation, submission of the April contract and dedicated corporation bylaws to the National Assembly, and settlement of who bears the application costs incurred through company infrastructure. While the largest shareholder's company held the nation's project name, the chair received ministerial treatment. Explaining the use of private funds may be evidence of service, but it is not an answer to conflict of interest. To keep the chair position, trademark rights must be relinquished first, and if that order is reversed, what the audit questioned becomes not integrity but qualification.