How a K-Pop Podcast Hit 630,000 Streams and Built a 21,000-Strong Following

Hello, this is Klab Insight.

In this edition, we’re excited to feature Atmi Ahsani Yusron(Ron), a journalist, content creator, and passionate K-pop fan from Indonesia.

Ron’s journey in the media world started with a personal blog, evolving into a career that blends his love for K-pop with his skills in journalism and podcasting. As the co-creator and producer of the popular podcasts KEKOREAAN and ngedrakor!, Ron has become a key figure in connecting fans with the Korean Wave, offering fresh insights into the ever-growing K-pop and K-drama industries.

Through this interview, Ron shares his journey, experiences, and advice for those interested in working in the K-pop industry beyond the traditional paths.

This newsletter highlights:

• Expanding Career Opportunities in K-pop Beyond Entertainment Agencies

• Creating Engaging K-pop Content Through Podcasts

• Building a Global Network through Collaborations and Partnerships

Q. Can you introduce yourself?

Hi, my name is Atmi Ahsani Yusron, but you can call me Ron. I'm a '90s kid, and this year, I'll be turning 34 (but not yet—I’m still 33! Haha). I'm a journalist, editor, content creator, and podcaster. Outside of my professional life, I'm a K-Pop fan who spent my teenage years listening to SHINee, Girls’ Generation, f(x), and Super Junior. I kicked off my 20s as a fan of EXO and IU, and these days, I’m also following Taeyeon’s solo career.

Q. What inspired you to become a podcast producer and editor, especially with a focus on K-POP content?

To answer that question, I’d like to share a bit about my journey with K-Pop, content creation, and broadcasting.

Back in high school, I was a radio host at a local station in Lombok, Indonesia, called Fresh Radio. That’s where my love for broadcasting—especially radio—first started. I began hosting in 2006 and discovered K-Pop in 2009.

In 2010, I launched my personal blog, kaoskakibau.com. At first, it was just a space for me to share personal stories and experiences, but by 2011, it had transformed into a full-on K-Pop blog where I wrote about the artists I loved (mostly SM Entertainment artists at the time). Back then, there weren’t many male K-Pop fans who openly expressed their love for the Korean Wave, so the blog gained quite a bit of popularity among K-Pop fans. That blog eventually led me to my first job as a K-Pop journalist in 2013.

Fast forward to 2019, I found my way back to broadcasting—this time through podcasts. That was my first time exploring this medium. My first K-Pop podcast was called KEKOREAAN, which I created with my co-host, Dita. We wanted to give fellow K-Pop fans a platform to share their thoughts and opinions on everything happening in the fandom and industry. At the time, we were both working at KASKUS.id, which gave us the opportunity to explore the Korean Wave and its community through the podcast.

Podcasting was still an emerging medium in Indonesia then, and there weren’t many content creators focusing on Korean Wave-related topics. KEKOREAAN was well-received by Indonesian K-Pop fans, even making it into Spotify’s Top 100 Podcasts several times. Today, it has over 21,000 followers on Spotify, more than 630,000 all-time streams, and over 21,000 total listening hours.

After moving from KASKUS.id to my current company—a leading online media platform in Indonesia—I started working on a new podcast. While KEKOREAAN focuses more on K-Pop and the music industry, I created ngedrakor!, a podcast dedicated to K-Dramas.

ngedrakor! has a loyal listener base, though its numbers aren’t as high as KEKOREAAN’s. However, since its launch, it has received great responses from listeners. Currently, ngedrakor! has over 5,000 Spotify followers, more than 272,000 streams, and over 18,000 listening hours.

Q. How did your passion for storytelling and media production lead you to your current role in the K-POP industry?

I've loved writing since I was a kid. When I started my personal blog in 2010, I found so much joy in writing about everything I experienced—whether it was in a day, a week, or a month. I’ve always believed that everyone has a unique perspective on things, and it’s important for people to share and express their thoughts. Through that blog, I discovered my confidence in writing.

When my blog shifted its focus to K-Pop in 2011, the excitement grew even more. I started receiving responses from readers, and my posts began gaining attention. That motivated me to keep writing again and again. That was when I realized my passion—writing about K-Pop.

During my final years in university, I was actively analyzing SHINee, Super Junior, f(x), Girls’ Generation, and EXO’s latest MVs. I also started corresponding with songwriters who worked with SM Entertainment artists, having conversations with them for my blog content. On top of that, I engaged in community activities, supported fellow K-Pop fans, and even led my university’s Korea appreciation club ‘Hangugo Dongari’. These experiences became a strong foundation for me as I stepped into the professional world.

After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Universitas Indonesia, I came across a job opening that felt like the perfect fit: K-Pop journalist. The opportunity came from Indonesia’s largest online media platform, which was one of the first to give special attention to the Korean Wave when most other media outlets weren’t. My writing skills and deep knowledge of K-Pop and the Korean entertainment industry helped me land my first job.

Now, 12 years later, I’m still covering the Korean Wave. My love for K-Pop and K-Dramas continues to push me to explore more—whether it’s the hottest rising groups, the most talked-about dramas, or the biggest box office hits (by the way, I’m obsessed with Exhuma!).

Q. Could you please eleborate on your responsibilities at Indonesia’s largest and No.1 online media platform?

My daily tasks include, but are not limited to, writing articles—both news updates and in-depth features—about K-content, particularly K-Pop, K-Dramas, and K-Movies. I am also the co-creator, producer, and editor of ngedrakor!, the company’s original K-Drama podcast.

Beyond writing and podcasting, I also go on the ground to cover K-Pop concerts in Jakarta, conduct in-depth interviews with key figures, and report on trending topics within Indonesia’s K-Pop community.

For the past years, I’ve been working on giving our readers information about Top 100 Korean Music on Melon Chart in a form of infographic. 

Q. How did your background in communication and creative broadcasting contribute to your current role?

Only a small part of what I learned in university is directly applicable to my work as a journalist. My academic background was more focused on TV broadcasting rather than journalism, but my love for writing gave me the confidence to start my career as a journalist at Indonesia’s largest and No.1 online media platform.

Ironically, my experience as a radio host played a much bigger role in shaping my current career. Being exposed to various music genres and big names in the entertainment industry, both locally and internationally, has helped me a lot in the creative aspects of my job.

Q. Could you tell us about the ‘ngedrakor!’ podcast? What topics do you cover and who do you invite as guests?

ngedrakor! is a Korean drama podcast—just like its name suggests. In Indonesia, “Drama Korea” is commonly shortened to Dra-Kor, and the term "ngedrakor" is a slang expression used when someone is binge-watching K-dramas.

The podcast ngedrakor! started during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly gained attention from listeners who were staying home and consuming online content. Now, in 2025, ngedrakor! is entering its sixth season.

Each episode of ngedrakor! typically focuses on a single K-drama title, whether it’s currently airing or has already finished. The format is a casual conversation between two hosts, where they share their insights on the storyline, character development, conflicts, and plot twists. Over time, ngedrakor! has dedicated special episodes to some of the most popular K-dramas, including Hospital Playlist, Yumi’s Cells, Love Next Door, and Squid Game 2.

Beyond just K-dramas, ngedrakor! also explores films—both Korean and international—through a segment called "INTERMISSION". The podcast has collaborated with major OTT platforms like Netflix, iQiyi, and Viu to discuss and promote trending K-dramas. Additionally, ngedrakor! has partnered with the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia (KCCI) under the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Indonesia, producing a series of special podcast episodes focused on K-dramas as part of cultural promotions.

While the podcast usually doesn’t feature guests, it has occasionally collaborated with fellow K-drama fans and viewers for special discussions.

Q. Can you describe how you monetize your K-POP-related content and podcasts?

Q. What is the most rewarding aspect of producing the "ngedrakor!" podcast, and how do you engage your listeners?

The most satisfying part is finishing a K-Drama and then breaking it down in detail in a podcast episode. The conversations between me and my podcast partner during recording often spark new ideas and different perspectives on the same show.

Listeners are usually involved through the comment section on Spotify and our SNS accounts for ngedrakor! From there, we get to see if they also enjoyed the drama we discussed and even receive requests for future episodes.

Beyond ngedrakor!, one of the biggest highlights of producing KEKOREAAN was being invited as moderators at Social Media Week 2019 in Jakarta—an unforgettable moment!

Q. What role do you think podcasts play in expanding the global K-POP fan base?

Although there aren’t many podcasters in Indonesia who focus solely on K-Pop, the podcast audience in the country is growing, and right now, the most popular content types are comedy, horror, and self-development.

KEKOREAAN and ngedrakor! are two Korean Wave podcasts in Indonesia that have been dedicated from the start to serving K-Wave fans. Through these shows, we want to help listeners feel more confident in sharing their opinions on different topics.

I can’t say that the two podcasts I produce are helping to expand the global K-Pop fanbase, but on a smaller community scale, we aim to be a friend to our listeners and make them feel heard, connected, and like they belong, so they never feel alone.

Q. How do you envision the future of podcasting in the K-POP space, and what steps are you taking to stay ahead of emerging trends?

Podcasting is growing and evolving, and it seems like the trend will continue for at least the next five years. I hope there will be more Korean Wave, K-Pop, and K-Drama podcasts that get attention from Indonesian podcast listeners. Podcasts are like a blank canvas that can be filled with all kinds of colors, and the possibilities are endless. I’m excited to see how this field will develop in the years to come.

Right now, I’m looking to create podcast content that’s more focused, zeroing in on a specific group or artist, beyond the more general content about the industry like KEKOREAAN. Wouldn’t it be fun if there was a podcast that only talks about Doh Kyung Soo or NJZ? K-Pop in Indonesia is a community of fans, and I want to stay connected to that fan community by creating content that truly resonates with themPodcasting is growing and evolving, and it seems like the trend will continue for at least the next five years. I hope there will be more Korean Wave, K-Pop, and K-Drama podcasts that get attention from Indonesian podcast listeners. Podcasts are like a blank canvas that can be filled with all kinds of colors, and the possibilities are endless. I’m excited to see how this field will develop in the years to come.

Q. How do you see the role of digital content creators in the growing global popularity of K-POP?

Globally, these content creators certainly play a huge role. Anything can go viral thanks to endorsements from these creators with a large following. They are an inseparable part of K-Pop marketing, whether it's intentional or organic. They deserve more recognition and appreciation than what they’re getting right now.

Q. What are the challenges you’ve faced in reporting K-POP events across different countries, and how do you overcome them?

The biggest challenge might be the language barrier with the translators. However, that can be overcome by talking to local fans at the concert venue.

Q. Your certifications from the Korea Tourism Organization are impressive. How have these contributed to your career in K-POP?

I’m honored to be one of the information spreaders for South Korean tourism through the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). The KTO Jakarta Office’s team are so friendly and fun! Especially the Director of KTO Jakarta Mr. Andrew Kim Jong Hoon! Always a pleasure to be part of them. Because of this, I’ve been invited several times to speak at Travel Fairs, sharing my experiences visiting South Korea. It’s also opened up many connections with other content creators in different niches. In terms of my career, this certification has been really helpful in validating my experience as someone passionate about South Korean culture.

Q. What would you say was the most surprising thing you discovered about the K-POP industry when you first started covering events? Could you share a story about a memorable K-POP event you covered and what you learned from the experience?

The first thing is the scale of production that K-Pop brings to the audience. Everything is carefully planned and prepared so that the event runs smoothly. I also began to realize how hard the people behind the scenes work and what it takes. The second thing is the fans’ enthusiasm, which is truly unstoppable and can show up in the most unexpected ways.

There have been several big concert events held in Indonesia. I’ll never forget the first time I attended INFINITE's concert, INFINITE EFFECT, in 2015. It was my first time watching a K-Pop concert with a live band. It was so cool! Then, in January 2025, they came back after 10 years, performing with a live band again. It felt incredibly nostalgic.

Over the past two years, I’ve attended several K-Pop concerts featuring live bands, such as IU, Taeyeon, Key from SHINee, TREASURE, and Kyuhyun. After seeing them perform on stage with live bands, I feel that it’s time for the K-Pop industry to make this the bare minimum for their concerts.

I’ve also covered the Golden Disc Awards, from the red carpet to the award ceremony itself.

Q. Could you tell us about a specific moment or project that significantly boosted your career in K-POP journalism?

I can’t say that I’ve reached the peak of my career as a K-Pop journalist yet. But when I look back at my journey and the experiences I’ve had meeting so many people, artists, and sources, and attending so many concert events, I realize how valuable these experiences have been. As a fan, I also want to help amplify the voices and opinions of fellow fans on hot topics. Recently, there have been many issues around K-Pop concert ticketing in Jakarta, as well as criticism from consumers about the performance of K-Pop concert promoters in Jakarta. I want to keep bringing these topics to the surface so fans can see real change.

Q. Looking ahead, how do you plan to evolve your career in the K-POP industry over the next 5-10 years?

I hope to continue being part of the K-Pop industry as an observer, critic, or simply as a fan. Through my experience of more than a decade in the K-Pop industry, I hope to keep sharing my stories and opinions about K-Pop. Right now, I don’t have any specific plans; I just want to stay involved in the K-Pop community and do what I love.

Q. Lastly, do you have any message for the readers?

I want to thank everyone who has paid attention to the articles I’ve written, whether on the company website or my personal blog. I also want to thank every listener of the podcasts I produce. I hope you all continue to enjoy my content!

Ron’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and perseverance, showing us that with dedication and vision, a love for K-pop can evolve into a meaningful and impactful career in the global entertainment industry.

Key Insights

1. Harnessing the Power of Podcasts in K-pop

   Podcasts offer a unique platform for K-pop fans to share their opinions, insights, and experiences. Ron’s KEKOREAAN and ngedrakor! podcasts show how media creators can connect with audiences through discussions on K-pop, K-dramas, and the Korean Wave, providing a space for fans to feel heard and connected.

2. Opportunities Beyond Performance Roles

   The K-pop industry isn’t limited to performing artists. Whether in media, content creation, or event coverage, there are various career paths for those who want to work behind the scenes. Ron’s work in K-pop journalism highlights how passion for the culture can lead to impactful roles outside of traditional performance careers.

3. Collaboration and Networking in K-pop

   Collaboration with other platforms and organizations helps expand the reach of K-pop content. Ron’s partnerships with platforms like Spotify and organizations like the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia emphasize how collaboration strengthens content visibility and builds a global network of K-pop enthusiasts.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this interview! Feel free to leave your comments below or email us at [email protected]. Your insights and questions are always welcome as we continue to explore the vibrant world of K-pop.

And feel free to connect with me on X, LinkedIn, & Thread.