Meet Shinjung Park | CEO & Founder of Lemon Sound

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shinjung Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shinjung, what is the most important factor behind your success?

I haven’t yet reached the level of success I’m aiming for, but I believe I’ve come farther than many. I credit this to big dreams, persistence, and the ability to execute.

Growing up, my father’s business failed, making my childhood and school years incredibly tough, leaving me with no money, no connections—nothing except one thing: big dreams. I wanted to be the best in the world, regardless of my circumstances. Even when I couldn’t afford lessons, even when no one believed in me, I still believed in myself. So, I worked part-time while studying on my own, and finally, I made it to the Korea National University of Arts.

During my time at the Korea National University of Arts, I founded my current company, Lemon Sound. While studying there, I noticed a problem: students from the film department and the composition department weren’t connected. So, I created a website to bridge this gap and allow them to collaborate. Although they were in the same building, they were searching on Naver (Korean version of Google) to find collaborators. I shared the website link with the film students, and that’s how Lemon Sound began. Watching dozens of projects come to life on this platform, I saw its marketability and decided to turn it into a business.

And now, Lemon Sound’s services are used by prominent companies such as Nintendo, Nexon, Gravity, Amorepacific, and KALPA. We attract visitors from nearly every corner of the globe, including the United States, South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, France, and Indonesia—almost everywhere except the Poles!

I’m determined to grow this company to the best in the world, with a legacy that lasts beyond my lifetime. Just as I’ve persevered so far, I’ll never give up on this dream. I hope you continue to follow and support Lemon Sound as we take on the world.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Lemon Sound is a global platform that connects content creators, particularly game companies, with talented artists worldwide. It offers a wide range of services to help creators find the perfect music and artists more efficiently. These include a contest system, personal matching, and a licensing platform. For artists, we provide opportunities to enter the global market and long-term revenue generation.

Content companies, such as game companies, choose Lemon Sound because our Lemonation services (global music contests) allow them to source a large volume of music while also gaining promotional and marketing benefits. For example, our recent Lemonation with KALPA received 326 entries, with over 40% from international participants across South Korea, Japan, the United States, China, Indonesia, and France (see reference link for details).

Artists benefit by gaining opportunities to contribute to multiple global projects through Lemon Sound. Artists earned approximately 100 million KRW (around $75,000 USD) through Lemon Sound in 2024. For our global contest, Lemonation, even if they don’t win, they retain full rights to their work for licensing, release, or use in portfolios, making participation easy and flexible. They’re also welcome to resubmit their work to future Lemonation contests.

Lemon Sound actively monitors all submissions, connecting artists to other projects whenever possible and supporting them through features, interviews, and future collaboration highlights.

Lemon Sound saw a 213% increase in third-quarter revenue compared to the first and second quarters, following the launch of a new service in July, and recorded a 480% increase in revenue year-over-year. Our site traffic shows visitors from nearly every country worldwide, including the United States, South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, Europe, and Indonesia.

Our major clients include leading companies in the gaming industry, such as Nintendo, Nexon, Gravity, and KALPA. In addition, composers of masterpieces such as the Super Mario Series, Minecraft, Apple tv, disney+ and Guild Wars are extensively affiliated with Lemon Sound. From anywhere in the world, users can visit Lemon Sound to purchase music from world top-tier artists or request custom compositions. Today, we’re breaking down borders to unite creators in seamless collaboration—from Seoul with the composer of Super Mario in LA, to Tokyo with Korean game companies.

Lemon Sound envisions growth as a music open market, with plans for developing a copyright management and distribution system as our second and third steps. Soon, anyone will be able to buy and sell music through Lemon Sound. This is what’s coming in our very next update!

Lemon Sound is on its way to becoming the world’s leading music platform. The music experience for people around the globe is about to change. As a company closely connected to music IP, Lemon Sound holds immense potential. We hope you’ll keep an eye on our growth moving forward. Please look forward to every step we take toward making this vision a reality!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my incredible team at Lemon Sound—Jiyoon, Julie, Jiwon, Eunice, Jieon and Phil. It’s a privilege to have you by my side on this journey. Your dedication makes this work so fulfilling and gives me immense strength.

To my dear friends—Aiden(Minseob), Yoonsub, Jiwoo, Matthew(Minseok), Ray, Sumin, Michelle(Juyoung), Michael, Hongkeun, André, Seonyi, Catan Family and my Blue Egg Farm Family —your support and love mean the world to me. And finally, with all my heart, I dedicate my love and gratitude to my beloved mom and my father in heaven.

Reflecting on these names, I realize just how much kindness and encouragement I’ve received. Each of you empowers me to keep pushing forward. I’ve come to truly understand the importance of ‘paying it forward,’ and I’m committed to passing on the lessons and support that have shaped my journey. Thank you all.

Website: https://www.lemonsound.co/

Instagram: @ppweoo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinjung-park-064050225/

Twitter: @lemonsound_co