K-Content to Shine at LA Screenings

Seven leading Korean content producers and distributors will showcase their highlights at the LA Screenings this year as the country continues to expand its impact on the global media business.

“These companies have been selected through a rigorous screening process and are recognized for their excellent content, including outstanding dramas and entertainment formats,” says Byongho Park, director of the LA Business Center of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the government-backed entity that has been pushing the Korean wave for decades. “To facilitate greater interaction with international buyers, an offline showcase will be held on Thursday, May 15. This event is an important opportunity to learn about the content offered by Korean participants and the global collaborations they propose.”

To make it easier for international buyers to discover the latest Korean fare, KOCCA also launched a website, kocca-lascreenings.org, which went live this week. “The website also allows for registration to attend the offline showcase and to schedule business meetings,” Park says. “We will continue to support Korean content companies in building diverse global partnerships.”

KOCCA has a range of initiatives to foster and promote the Korean content business, Park continues. “Tailored programs are provided to meet the needs of the broadcasting ecosystem, including script development, program production, training, marketing and global distribution. KOCCA is dedicated to maintaining a diverse content supply chain by supporting content companies and creators,” Park notes.

These efforts include supporting the participation of Korean content companies at major global content markets. “This enables them to establish co-productions and business partnerships with broadcasters, platforms and producers worldwide,” he says. “In particular, KOCCA hosts the annual Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) event, a key broadcasting and video content business forum. Through these efforts, KOCCA strengthens Korea’s presence in the global broadcasting market and boosts the long-term competitiveness of the content industry.”

Those efforts have already paid off, with Korean content scaling its presence in major global territories. Park says several factors have helped Korean content achieve prominence, most notably “the powerful storytelling, creative ideas and the growth of global platforms,” Park explains. “In the case of dramas, they cover topics that are not clichéd, evoking universal empathy and emotions, while their fast-paced narratives help viewers stay engaged. Korea’s content consumers have very high standards, so success in the Korean market is seen as a sign of competitiveness in the global market. Additionally, the growth of global streaming platforms has made Korean dramas, films and variety shows easily accessible worldwide, allowing Korea to play an important role in the global entertainment industry.”

There will be a diverse slate on offer at the LA Screenings; on the scripted front, there are highlights like the 1980s-set drama Embers from ASTORY, the romantic comedy Pump Up the Healthy Love from KBS Media and SBS International’s The Haunted Palace. Given Korea’s track record of creating hit formats, entertainment is in the mix, with concepts like Infinite Loop from CJ ENM, Bingo Karaoke from MBC America and Unforgettable Duet from Something Special. Big House Entertainment is touting a documentary series, Royal Table, and a webtoon series, Royal Table Cartoon.

“We are witnessing growing momentum for Korean content in emerging markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe,” Park says. “Countries like Mexico, Brazil and the UAE are experiencing increased demand for Korean dramas and variety shows, primarily driven by a rising number of young audiences discovering content through streaming platforms and social media.”

The global interest in Korean content prompted KOCCA to launch the K-Content Expo annually in several countries, “providing opportunities to experience and enjoy various Korean content such as dramas, K-pop, K-comics (webtoons), games and animation firsthand. Additionally, we are strengthening our global cooperation network through 25 global business centers in 22 countries.”

Park continues, “KOCCA is participating in major global markets and is committed to building a sustainable international ecosystem for Korean content. We support subtitles and dubbing tailored to countries interested in Korean content and promote co-production and licensing partnerships with international broadcasters and platforms. Additionally, through global training programs, we help Korean talents acquire the skills, insights and networks necessary to succeed in diverse markets. To ensure sustainable global competitiveness, we focus on establishing K-content brands rooted in Korea’s creativity and cultural identity.”

“This year, KOCCA aims to expand its global market presence by strengthening co-production partnerships,” Park adds. “We will continuously work to support the international expansion of various content sectors, including not only K-dramas and K-pop but also webtoons, animations and games.”