Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Top 10% of South Korean media firms earn 76% of sector income
South Korean firms in online media, including YouTube-related businesses, reported a total of 1.1134 trillion won in income in 2025 tax filings.
Of 2,024 firms, 207 earned at least 1 billion won each.
Together, those firms reported 842.7 billion won, or 76% of the sector’s total income.
In 2021, 22 firms reached that income level; by 2025, the number had grown to 207.
The reported income of those high-earning firms rose from 63.6 billion won to 842.7 billion won over the same period.
Meanwhile, the number of operating individual businesses in the sector grew from 9,633 in 2021 to 36,604 in 2025.
The figures show a growing industry in which income is concentrated among a small share of firms.
The top 10% of South Korea’s one-person media companies accounted for 76% of the sector’s reported income.
The 207 companies with annual income of at least 1 billion won reported 842.7 billion won in income.
A total of 2,024 companies in related industries reported combined income of 1.1134 trillion won.
The number of companies in the 1-billion-won income group rose from 22 in 2021 to 207 in 2025.
The number of active individual businesses in the sector also increased, reaching 36,604 in 2025.
- Who
- South Korean companies in one-person media-related industries, including those associated with creators such as YouTubers.
- What
- The 207 companies reporting at least 1 billion won in annual income accounted for 76% of the sector’s reported company income.
- When
- The figures were based on 2025 corporate tax filings; comparisons cover 2021 to 2025.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
There were 22 companies reporting at least 1 billion won in annual income.
The sector had 9,633 active individual businesses and 1,167 corporate businesses.
The number of companies reporting at least 1 billion won in annual income reached 207.
The sector had 36,604 active individual businesses and 3,182 corporate businesses.
- Companies reporting income
- 2,024
- Total reported company income
- 1.1134 trillion won
- Companies earning at least 1 billion won
- 207
- Share of income earned by those 207 companies
- 76% (842.7 billion won)
- Other companies’ reported income
- 1,817 companies; 270.7 billion won
- Individual businesses active in 2025
- 36,604