AEG Presents expands into South Korea, appoints Jonathan Lee to lead new Seoul office

Live entertainment company AEG Presents has named Jonathan Lee as Managing Director of its newly opened office in South Korea.

Lee will be based in Seoul and oversee the strategy and growth of AEG Presents Korea in what the company calls the K-pop touring market.

He joins from WPP Korea, where he served as Business Development Director, leading strategic initiatives, partnerships and M&A transactions. He will report to Michael Harrison, SVP of Global Touring at AEG Presents.

“I’m honored to join AEG Presents at such an exciting time for both K-pop and the Korean live entertainment market,” said Lee.

“Korea has become one of the most important music markets in the world, with its globally influential fan culture and artist ecosystem continuing to shape the future of live entertainment. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen AEG Presents‘ presence in Korea, build meaningful partnerships, and create long-term growth opportunities for both artists and fans.”

“Korea has become one of the most important music markets in the world, with its globally influential fan culture and artist ecosystem.”

Jonathan Lee

Commenting on the appointment, Harrison said: “Korea sits at the center of the global K-Pop ecosystem and plays a critical role in our overall Asia strategy.

“Jonathan‘s appointment and the opening of our Korea office mark an important milestone in AEG Presents‘ long-term commitment to the region.”

“Jonathan‘s appointment and the opening of our Korea office mark an important milestone in AEG Presents‘ long-term commitment to the region.”

Michael Harrison

Harrison added that with Lee on the ground in Seoul, the company is positioned to “deepen artist and partner relationships, support inbound and outbound touring, and build a sustainable platform that connects Korea more directly with our global touring network.”

According to the company, Lee brings 20 years of experience across entertainment and marketing, with a focus on corporate strategy, partnerships and M&A.

Prior to WPP Korea, he held roles at CJ ENM across corporate strategy and international business. He holds a degree in Management Science from the University of California, San Diego.

His arrival comes a little over a year after AEG Presents signed a multi-year strategic partnership with KQ Entertainment, the South Korean company behind K-pop group ATEEZ. Under that deal, AEG took on the production of all ATEEZ tours worldwide.

ATEEZ and ENHYPEN are now listed in AEG‘s global touring roster alongside Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, and Paul McCartney.

The Korean live music market has expanded sharply in recent years.

HYBE, the largest K-pop entertainment company, reported concert revenue of KRW 763.9 billion (USD $537.5 million) in 2025, up 69.4% YoY, after staging 279 concerts across 53 cities with 12 touring artists.

The Korea office launch caps a series of moves by AEG Presents to deepen its Asia footprint. In December 2022, the company struck a strategic partnership with K-pop touring firm Powerhouse, which has worked with acts including BTS and BLACKPINK.

In January 2025, AEG realigned its international management structure, with Adam Wilkes appointed President and CEO of AEG Presents, Europe and Asia-Pacific. That was followed in July 2025 by the appointment of Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant as President and CEO of AEG Presents Asia Pacific.

In February, John Langford was promoted to President, Asia-Pacific for AEG International — the group’s venue and real estate arm — to lead its expansion strategy across venues including Shanghai‘s Mercedes-Benz Arena and the recently opened IG Arena in Nagoya.

A division of Anschutz Entertainment Group, AEG Presents operates across five continents and is the world’s second-largest live music company behind Live Nation. Its festival portfolio includes Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Stagecoach, British Summer Time at Hyde Park, and Rock En Seine.Music Business Worldwide