When J.Y. Park was asked in December 2012 what makes a K-pop star, he gave one answer twice: manners and personality. At the time he was a judge on the talent show Survival Audition K-pop Star, which was about to start its second season. He was also the founder of JYP Entertainment.
Park was 40 then. He sat on the panel with Yang Hyun Suk, the founder of YG Entertainment, and BoA of S.M. Entertainment. They were searching for the next big name among candidates from around the world.
What does it take to become a K-pop star?
In an e-mail interview, Park said character comes before technique. A hopeful, he argued, must first be genuine in how they act and suitably well-mannered. Skills are what turn such a person into a talent.
He repeated the point when he described the singer he would sign. In his view, talent counts for little if the person has no manners.
He was as thorough in writing as he was when critiquing contestants on screen. That thoroughness was part of his approach as a judge.
Why does Park say so much to contestants?
Park described his judging style as “parenting”. Some contestants, he felt, could do more than they showed on stage. He wanted to help that hidden potential come out instead of leaving it dormant.
That explains why he usually talked more than his fellow judges. He said a comment on someone’s talent, aspirations or dreams can bring hope or despair, so he tried to be careful and detailed.
Do the judges compete for the winner?
The winner of the show chose which company to join. Park admitted it could feel like a contest if all three judges wanted the same person. He said the tension passed quickly, because each label values different things, and those priorities show in its current artists.
The Season 1 winner, Park Ji Min, was 15 and known for soulful, powerful vocals. She chose Park’s label.
JYP Entertainment, founded in 1997, was then known for a sound that blends dance and soul. Its roster in 2012 included Wonder Girls, 2AM and 2PM.
Can another Rain emerge?
Rain left JYP in 2007 to start his own company. He was among the first K-pop artists to enter the United States market as an actor, and he performed at Madison Square Garden in 2006. Park said anyone with that kind of talent could follow a similar path if they put in the effort.
What else did Park do in 2012?
Besides judging, Park was running his label, acting and singing. He had started as a singer in the 1990s but found bigger success as a producer-songwriter. His hits included “Nobody” for Wonder Girls and “Again & Again” for 2PM.
His nickname was “The Asian Soul”, a nod to music that spans genres such as jazz and blues. His single “You’re The One” came out in 2012.
On screen he showed a lighter side. In the “Nobody” video he played a singer trapped in a toilet. In the drama Dream High he played a music school teacher with dreams of K-pop stardom. He said that when he acts in a video or drama he can be as fun as he likes, and that it also lets him connect with fellow artists and entertain audiences.
Where is J.Y. Park now?
JYP Entertainment has now been going for 29 years, and Park’s role has changed. JYP Entertainment announced on 10 March 2026 that he would not seek reappointment as an inside director at the shareholders’ meeting on 26 March. He had held that post since 2011.
He remains the founder and Chief Creative Officer. The company said he plans to spend more time on his own music, mentoring younger performers and external initiatives for the global K-pop industry.
One of those external roles began in September 2025, when he was appointed co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, a presidential advisory body in South Korea. The committee works on a national vision for popular culture policy through public and private cooperation.
He has kept releasing music as well. His 2026 single “Wet” is a reggae-inspired summer track.