KOREA Country Of Honour CONTENT WITHOUT BORDERS
Korean Wave power TV audiences across Asia have long been in love with Korean shows. Now, the rest of the world has fallen under the spell of the innovative content from this production powerhouse. Andy Fry finds out why EXPLAINING the international appeal of Korean content, Joun Je-Yeon, director of content business at public broadcaster KBS, says: “Korean content places a strong emphasis on universal themes, like family-oriented stories. And Korean producers know how to make unique and attractive shows. As a result, we believe Korean content has what it takes to travel well all around the world.” KBS started distributing KBS content worldwide via subsidiary KBS Media around 30 years ago, so it has accumulated vast experience in terms of the kind of content that appeals to global buyers. And by embracing the expansion of the pay-TV and OTT platforms, it has managed to license content to numerous non-traditional markets, including the US and Europe. Its biggest breakthrough to date, The Good Doctor, was sold as a format to US network ABC. “The key driver of the worldwide success of The Good Doctor is that the story is based on humanism,” Joun says. “It resonates with the global audience as the protagonist, who has autism, overcomes obstacles and grows into a talented surgeon. Its strength is an appealing story and the US success has made it a globally acclaimed format.” KBS produces across several genres and this has a positive knock-on effect on its export business. Joun cites the example of Oops! We Forgot Your Order, a factual entertainment show that features elderly people with
mild dementia who set up restaurants. The format, which addresses a challenging social issue through the prism of a light-hearted and engaging narrative, has been sold to China, Switzerland and Vietnam, and is in pre-production for season two in Korea. Coming into MIPCOM Online+ 2020, Joun says KBS is highlighting “unique and universal programmes that will be introduced on OTT platforms simultaneously with broadcast TV”. These include comic drama Zombie Detective and celebrity cooking competition Stars’ Top Recipe At Fun-Staurant. Like KBS, commercial channel MBC has enjoyed numerous international success stories, most notably with its entertainment format The Masked Singer. During MIPCOM, Jean Hur, MBC’s director of international relations, says the company hopes to meet new buyers, especially from regions beyond Asia. “We are glad that Korea is the Country Of Honour, because it is an opportunity to introduce our original content and seek new business opportunities,” she adds. “We are open to production partnerships and co-production opportunities in all genres of programming. We think that international co-production can be all the more effective now that COVID-19 is hindering so much international filming.” MBC, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2021, is active across drama, entertainment and documentary. “MBC drama series such as Coffee Prince and Jewel In The Palace,
Country Focus• 14 • OCTOBER 2020
KBS’ The Good Doctor, sold as a format to US network ABC as well as reality shows such as Infinite Challenge and I Live Alone, have impressed viewers from Korea and abroad,” Hur says. On the success of Korean content exports, Hur adds: “Koreans are genuinely energetic, but we believe that the power of our content is the key that leads to good business. Asia is, of course, our primary focus market but, when it comes to formats and co-productions, we have partnerships with broadcasters and production houses from all regions.”
