Kim Min-seok (businessman)
Kim Min-seok is a South Korean businessman and CEO of The Pinkfong CompanyThe Pinkfong CompanyThe Pinkfong Company (formerly SmartStudy) is a Seoul-based South Korean kids and family entertainment company known for the Pinkfong brand and the Baby Shark franchise, with other IP such as Bebefinn and SEALOOK; it listed on KOSDAQ in 2025.Open the full entry (formerly SmartStudy), the kids and family entertainment company known for Pinkfong and Baby SharkBaby SharkBaby Shark is a children’s song and franchise of videos, animation, films and merchandise from the South Korean company The Pinkfong Company (formerly SmartStudy); its Baby Shark Dance video, uploaded in 2016, was the first YouTube video to pass 10 billion views.Open the full entry, which listed on KOSDAQ in 2025.
Contents11 sections
Key facts
Before 2010Nexon
Before leading SmartStudy as CEO, Kim Min-seok worked at the South Korean game company Nexon.[1]
February 2016On Children’s Education
In 2016 he explained his move into children’s content: “I started to realize the importance of child education, and thought of making games for children.”[1]
November 2018Largest Shareholder of SmartStudy
In November 2018 Kim, 37, was SmartStudy’s largest shareholder with a 23.1% stake; he is the son of Kim Jin-yong, CEO of the Korean publisher Samsung Publishing, which held 20.8%.[2]
January 2022Company Renamed
When the company was renamed The Pinkfong Company in January 2022, he said it would expand into webtoons, web novels and sports and “‘글로벌 패밀리 엔터테인먼트 기업’으로 진화할 것” (evolve into a global family entertainment company).[3]
February 2022Backing a New Children’s Song
When the company joined a KBS 2TV children’s song program, he said it would “대한민국을 들썩일 차세대 동요가 탄생할 수 있도록 적극 지원하겠다” (actively support the birth of a next-generation children’s song that would stir the whole country).[4]
July 2024On the U.K. Chart Record
After Baby Shark topped the U.K. ranking of most-streamed music videos, he said the song had “다시 한번 글로벌 IP로서 파급력을 증명했다” (once again proved its reach as a global IP).[5]
September 2025Leading the Listing
When the company filed its KOSDAQ registration statement, he said it had “전 세계가 주목하는 패밀리 엔터테인먼트 기업으로 자리매김했다” (established itself as a family entertainment company the world watches).[6]
November 2025Company Lists
After retail subscription closed, he said the company would grow into an “‘엔터테크 기업’” (entertainment-tech company) and turn its results into shareholder value.[7]
After the company began trading on KOSDAQ on November 18, he said: “The successful completion of our IPO marks a meaningful milestone for The Pinkfong Company.”[8]
As of October 2026: Head of The Pinkfong Company
As of October 2026 The Pinkfong Company’s Korean website listed him as the company’s representative.[9]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
The Pinkfong Company: Official website: https://www.thepinkfongcompany.com/en (opens in a new window)[10]
Sources
- South Korea’s First-Gen Unicorn Game Developers Are Now Gamifying Education (opens in a new window)
- SmartStudy gears up for IPO in 2020 - THE INVESTOR (opens in a new window)
- 스마트스터디, '더핑크퐁컴퍼니'로 사명 변경... 글로벌 패밀리 엔터테인먼트 기업으로 도약 (opens in a new window)
- 더핑크퐁컴퍼니, KBS 2TV '국민동요 프로젝트 아기싱어'와 제작 협업 (opens in a new window)
- 핑크퐁 아기상어, 英 오피셜 차트 '최다 스트리밍 뮤직비디오(MV)' 1위 등극… K팝 최초이자 유일 (opens in a new window)
- 더핑크퐁컴퍼니, 코스닥 상장 증권신고서 제출 (opens in a new window)
- 더핑크퐁컴퍼니, 일반청약 경쟁률 846.9:1 기록… 청약 증거금 8조 원 (opens in a new window)
- The Pinkfong Company Lists on KOSDAQ (opens in a new window)
- 더핑크퐁컴퍼니 주식회사 (opens in a new window)
- The Pinkfong Company, Inc. (opens in a new window)