SM Entertainment executives named to Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music list

SM Entertainment said two of its senior executives were named to Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music list in the labels, distributors and artist services category.

Kim Ji-won, chief relations officer, and Choi Jeong-min, chief global officer, were among the honorees listed Friday on Billboard’s official website. The recognition marks the second consecutive year both executives have appeared on the annual list.

Billboard’s Women in Music program recognizes female artists, creators, producers and executives who have made a significant impact on the music industry over the preceding year.

Kim has served as a public relations strategist at SM Entertainment since the early 2000s, overseeing external communications and marketing strategy for the company and its artists. SM credited her with helping establish the country’s pop profile in international media markets through strategic media planning and integrated communications.

Choi oversees artist branding and business operations across the Americas, Europe and Asia, working with the company’s regional subsidiaries and local partners to expand its global reach and deepen its fan base.

In 2025, the two executives were joined on the Women in Music list by SM act aespa, which was named Group of the Year.

SM Entertainment in January unveiled its “SM NEXT 3.0” strategy, laying out a mid- to long-term road map as it moves beyond its 30th anniversary. The plan centers on an artist-led, multistudio production system, the global expansion of intellectual property and the development of artificial intelligence-driven production infrastructure.

The Billboard Women in Music 2026 ceremony is scheduled for April 29 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.