•2025 Ra Jong Yil Lecture

‘Baby Shark Swims in the Korean Wave: A Cultural Analysis of Global Media Phenomena’

External speakers:  Seungkyu Ryan Lee

Venue: Lucia Windsor Room, Newnham College

Event date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025, 17:00 PM

Seungkyu Ryan Lee is co-founder of The Pinkfong Company and Smartstudy Venture Capital, having produced globally recognized brands such as “Baby Shark” and “Bebefinn.”  A Seoul National University alumnus with formative experience at game developer Nexon, he embodies the spirit of global digital entrepreneurship.

While the Korean Wave is usually associated with film, TV shows, and popular music, Korean entrepreneurs have also achieved significant global success in family entertainment. The song “Baby Shark” in particular has become the most watched Youtube video of all time, etched into the minds of millions of children and parents around the globe. Behind the viral phenomenon is the Korean Pinkfong Company which has been building up a global entertainment empire since 2010, even being referred to as the “Korean Disney.” For this year’s Ra Jong-Yil Distinguished Lecture, we welcome Seungkyu Ryan Lee, co-founder and Head of Global Business of the Pinkfong Company, to offer insight into the rise of a different kind of Korean Wave.