Most frequently used music streaming or download services South Korea 2024

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 53 percent of respondents stated that they used the international streaming giant YouTube to stream or download music contents. A similarly popular service, at about 47 percent, was South Korean music streaming platform Melon. YouTube's paid music streaming service, YouTube Music, was used by roughly 27 percent of Korean respondents. 

Melon

Melon is a service introduced by SK Telecom in 2004, and is currently owned by Kakao Entertainment. It provides a platform on which users can both stream and buy music. While use has declined somewhat, the app still had millions of monthly active users (MAU). It also hosts one of Korea's most prestigious annual music awards, the Melon Music Awards (MMAs).

Music consumption

Whether accessed via streaming or via downloads, digital music is a lucrative and growing market in South Korea. It is particularly popular among K-pop fans, where high streaming numbers are considered an important measure of an artist's success. This is further incentivized by the industry itself, as streaming is a common factor in weekly and annual award shows. Many digital music streaming or download services are either exclusively paid or have free and paid tiers, with different payment models being available. The standard subscription to a streaming service was the most popular in a 2023 survey.