Spotify has overtaken domestic pioneer Melon to become the second-largest music streaming platform in South Korea, a milestone that places two international services at the top of the market for the first time.
Data from research firm WiseApp Retail shows Spotify reached 6.2 million monthly active users, edging past Melon’s 6.1 million. YouTube Music retained the number one position.
At the start of 2026, Melon held 6.1 million users while Spotify counted 5 million. Melon, launched in 2004, had long been a dominant force in the country’s digital music landscape.
Separate figures from Mobile Index challenge the WiseApp Retail ranking. The firm reports Melon at 7.1 million monthly active users and Spotify at 2.4 million, suggesting a different competitive picture.
