Clubhouse in Korea – Networking Online for Koreans

Entrepreneurs living in Korea jumped on to Clubhouse in mass in 2021 at the height of Covid. They were able to expand their network and grow their business both inside and outside Korea. While Clubhouse has fallen from 10 million monthly users to now 3.5 million monthly users, it is unknown if the platform will survive. It was interesting to see how quickly Clubhouse in Korea took off when it was only available on IOS at the time. Koreans bought iPhones just to use Clubhouse. It was the biggest social media trend in Korea. Most of the conversations happening in Clubhouse in Korea were amongst friends who in turn brought their network of friends. 

Now post covid the Clubhouse craze has dropped dramatically but is still used to network. Even with a 65% drop in usage in Korea, it is still a great platform to connect online with the global audience. It offers an alternative to Kakao and Naver communities that only focus on the Korean market. \

What is Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is a social audio app for iOS and Android where users can communicate in audio chat rooms that accommodate groups of thousands of people. Clubhouse led to the emergence of a new social media segment known as social audio or drop-in audio. Therefore, think of Clubhouse as a podcast in real-time where you can participate by raising your hand and getting called on by the moderator.

Clubhouse allows those that are feeling lonely or in need of human interaction a platform they are easily log in and out of. There is no need to schedule a time, just log on and see who is online and what rooms are open. Therefore, it is perfect for Koreans who are shy about showing their face on video and there is no pressure to join in on the conversation. You can sit back and listen. It is no wonder the Clubhouse app has taken off in Korea as it has worldwide. 

The Short History of Clubhouse

Clubhouse is an audio-based social media app. Those 40 or older might remember listening to AM radio stations and calling in to speak on the air. It is basically that in the digital age. Clubhouse is less than 3 years old. The app was launched in January 2020 by Paul Davidson and Rohan Seth.  They launched Clubhouse on iOS in April 2020.

They got a $10 million investment from Andreessen Horowitz a month later. There was a waiting list for the app which generated a lot of buzz for the app because you couldn’t get in unless you were invited. The invitation could only come from someone who is in Clubhouse. Therefore, the initial people in Clubhouse were key players within Silicon Valley. This meant that Clubhouse immediately had a network of high-impact entrepreneurs in the startup scene. So early on, the talks happening on the platform were from insiders and experts within the tech community.

By the end of 2020, Clubhouse had a little over 1 million users. However, in January Clubhouse went to 2 million users thanks to Elon Musk joining the app.

Then in February they raise more funding on a $1 billion valuation and raise $100 million which also involved Andreessen Horowitz. and by 2021 it had grown to 10 million monthly users. In 2023, they have a total of 10 million users with 3.5 monthly users, and these figures are on a downward trend.  Currently, the company has a $4 billion valuation. 

Clubhouse in Korea

The Clubhouse app had a tiny Korean community in early February 2021. However, throughout the month, the buzz started to grow. Soon invitations were sold for as much as 25,000 won on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Currently, Clubhouse in Korea is mainly used for networking. Many share their experiences living and working in Korea. However, there have been cases of startup pitch events and panel talks for startups and entrepreneurs. It is still a great place to not only grow your network within Korea but also find new talent in their respective industries. Furthermore, it is an excellent platform for Koreans to meet new people from all around the world. They will not only have access to the latest Korean trends, but they can also join rooms that feature the latest trends and opinions from industries outside of Korea. 

How do you use Clubhouse?

Once on the app, you will see a list of rooms once you enter the app. These rooms are recommended by Clubhouse based on your phone directory. You can also search for rooms using keywords. In addition, there is a greenhouse icon to learn more about the club before you follow it. Most follow groups in their industry or groups they are interested in. 

Before entering a room, make sure you fill out your bio. Your Clubhouse bio tells people who you are. What you include in your bio will determine how people will find you via searches. Try to create an extended informational bio. Some key information to put in your bio includes where you work, your title, your content channels, and your social media profiles. Once in a room, you will see three sections of people.

The first section is the stage. The stage will have all the speakers, moderators, and those called to speak.

The second stage shows people followed by the speakers.

Finally, the third section shows the audience.

You can also create a room. Once you create a room, you will automatically become the moderator for that room. You will have control over who comes on stage and muting power. In addition, you can give other people the role of moderator. Clubs can have multiple admins to create, host, and moderate the room. You can also make your room private. Public rooms are open to anyone. Anyone who follows your club will get a notification when you open a room. The maximum size for a chat room is 5,000 people. 

How should Industries in Korea use Clubhouse?

Press Junkets

What better way to speak with the press than to invite them to a room for the upcoming release of an album, movie, or event? Instead of flying around the world doing press junkets, a production company can arrange for press junkets to be held in rooms for a particular country. A whole wide press junket can occur in a single day spanning multiple rooms. They can bring in journalists, writers, and media who will be allowed to ask any question they please.

Interviews

Interviews can now take place in a matter of minutes. There is no need to fly a camera crew out to a particular location or have the star come into a studio. The whole interview can be done at Clubhouse, meaning neither side will have to travel. The moderator can take questions from the audience or have the interview be a listen-only event. Do you have a product or service you are about to launch? You can follow tech journalists already holding weekly shows on Clubhouse to hopefully get on and showcase your product/service.

Focus Groups

Industries in Korea can hold focus groups to get consumer feedback on products, services, and content. These valuable insights from the public can go a long way in making improvements. If you are a Kbeauty brand, you can talk about future products you plan. The best part is that the brands can ask consumers directly what they want in a product.

Auditions

Record companies can hold auditions right on Clubhouse. Think of the reality show Kpop Star but in all audio forms. This could be a great way to first listen to the actor’s performance rather than their visuals.

Job Interviews

What better way to interview a group of potential employees than to have them on Clubhouse? Companies in Korea can open a room for 4-5 applicants and talk to them as a whole. This is a great way to distinguish talent, as they will be in the same setting.