The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will support exports of Korean dramas and entertainment programs to Greater China, a region traditionally comprising China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market aka Filmart, which runs through March 16. (Hong Kong Trade Development Council's official Facebook)
By Park Hye Ri
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on March 13 said it will aggressively resume exports of Korean content like dramas and entertainment programs to Greater China, a region comprising China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart), a global broadcast and video market.
Jointly with the Korea Creative Content Agency, the ministry will run Korean Pavilion at the event and support Korean companies in export consultations with foreign buyers, including those from Greater China, at Filmart, which ends on March 16.
As the biggest market in the Asia-Pacific region for TV and cinematic works, Filmart is being held offline this year for the first time in four years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty-three Korean companies at the pavilion will showcase about 80 works.
Major Korean broadcast companies and platforms scheduled to attend Filmart include SBS Contents Hub, which is airing Season 2 of the drama "Taxi Driver"; CJ ENM, producer of the entertainment show "Boys Planet"; Wavve; KBS Media; MBC; and Studio LuluLala.
Production and distribution companies for broadcast content exhibiting their works for export and holding consultations include AStory, the production agency of the hit series "Extraordinary Attorney Woo"; KT Studio Genie; Whynot Media; Wemade; Young & Contents; and Lian Contents.
On March 15, a promotional showcase for Korean content will premiere media works on-site planned for production and broadcast this year like the thriller series "Look At Me."
Two actors from the drama, Lee Min-ki and Han Ji-hyeon, will visit Filmart along with Kim Na-young, CEO of the production agency Westworld Story, to discuss the series' characters and plans for its production and distribution as well as hold exchanges with buyers there.
The resumption of broadcasts of K-dramas in China last year has raised expectations for exports of Korean series and other broadcast content to Greater China, the ministry said, thus interest in Filmart, which is popular among buyers in the region, has grown among participating companies.
The ministry said, "Starting with Hong Kong, we will support the development of newly emerging markets and expand in-person business and export opportunities like Korean content promotional previews and distribution consultations in major regions like the Americas, Europe and Asia to continue driving the global popularity of Korean content."
This is a list of Korean companies exhibiting at Korean Pavilion of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart), which ends on March 16. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)