Korean Entertainment Business Brief

• Cross-sector integration: KPEX unites K-Pop, dramas, comics, games, food, and beauty at Javits Center with a "festival mentality" linking fandoms to...

KOMCA reported modest growth in 2025 copyright collections, based on its official review of results. This underscores the ongoing challenge of converting Korea's expanding music footprint into stronger rights-based revenue.

YG can turn BLACKPINK's massive reach into lasting revenue by expanding beyond music into fashion, partnerships and fan experiences.

• BLACKPINK's...

TikTok is converting K-culture discovery into direct consumer spending across beauty, tourism, fashion and food.

• 88.7% of surveyed users discovered...

• Cost efficiency gains: Ads on news sites delivered 17.7% lower CPM, 38.4% lower CPC and 20.6% lower vCPM versus non-news inventory.
• Engagement...

Korean entertainment companies are tapping Indonesia's massive market through targeted partnerships rather than solo entry.

• DRX-Nuon deal focuses...

Galaxy Corporation is positioning robot idols as the next generation of K-pop celebrities, betting on physical AI to transform South Korea's...

Galaxy Corp opened a Seoul robot theme park where AI-powered robots perform K-pop dances and interact with visitors, turning physical AI into globally...

• Episode Company shifted from children's YouTube content to lead investing in Cannes-selected "Dora," citing the slump for favorable terms with top...

The US microdrama industry is projected to generate $1.5 billion in 2026 and approach $2 billion next year, as NBCUniversal, Fox and other major groups invest in vertical series with 45-second to two-minute episodes.

Galaxy Corporation aims to launch K-pop robot idols on world tours next year, using them as an alter ego to bypass physical limits on artist travel...

The Korean Business Research Institute's August movie star brand reputation rankings provide a direct gauge of film actors' marketability and endorsement potential in the Korean entertainment sector.

DRX is formalizing its shift into a digital entertainment company by adding K-dramas and mobile game publishing alongside esports.

• Diversification...

Vertical media is projected to hit $150 billion in global revenue outside China in 2026, up 42% from 2025, with $131 billion from ads on platforms...

Kakao's restructuring separates its AI-driven platform operations from content holdings, placing Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment under KakaoX...

Big Bang's 20th anniversary turned Seoul into an immersive fan destination with Han River fireworks, a massive Bangbong installation at Seokchon Lake,...

Viu stands out by securing K-drama streaming rights within days of South Korean premieres, driving subscriber growth across Southeast Asia.

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KCON LA now doubles as a scouting venue for Mnet’s “Girls Planet 2027,” where open auditions target talent with U.S. appeal through a new partnership...

YouTube and TikTok were the most widely used media platforms by South Koreans in the first half of 2026 per a new survey.

Netflix will drop all seven seasons of the Japanese medical hit Doctor X globally on September 1, directly ahead of the Korean remake starring Kim...