[Edaily Starin, Reporter Choi Hee-jae] #CJ ENM drew attention at the “2026 Korea International Streaming Festival” (KISF) by highlighting the growth potential of K-content and presenting a growth model that combines platforms and technology.

CJ ENM announced on the 19th that it participated in the “2026 International Streaming Summit: Streaming Beyond Borders,” held on the 18th at the Sky Theater of the Busan Cinema Center, and shared insights on the global competitiveness of K-content and the future direction of the content industry.
At the event, CJ ENM introduced △global success strategies for K-variety shows △the evolution of fandom-based platform businesses △and examples of innovation in content production utilizing AI technology. Content creators, platform representatives, and industry experts attended the event to discuss sustainable growth strategies for K-content amid the rapidly changing global media landscape.
Through a special session titled “Success Strategies for K-Variety Shows That Resonate Globally,” CJ ENM shared the background behind how Korean variety shows have grown beyond a domestic genre to become core content in the global format industry, as well as their future development directions. Jang Se-hee, Director of Platform Business Planning at CJ ENM, served as the moderator for this session, joined by panelists Lee Sun-young, Creative Producer (CP) of Mnet’s “Couple Palace”; Lee Won-woong, CP of tvN’s “I Am a Boxer”; and Kim Jung-hwan, Professor in the Department of Media Studies at Korea University.
Professor Kim analyzed, “From ‘I Can See Your Voice’ in the past to the recent ‘Couple Palace,’ Korea has completely transformed from a market that benchmarked overseas formats to one that leads and proposes global format trends.”
He went on to suggest, “For K-variety shows to have long-term success in the global market, a comprehensive long-term intellectual property (IP) expansion strategy—encompassing digital, short-form content, and live events—is necessary, and localized strategies tailored to each region’s culture and viewing habits must be implemented.”
The panelists discussed strategies to maintain sustained competitiveness in the global market, including K-variety’s unique storytelling and production capabilities, as well as the potential for format exports and localization. In particular, using “Couple Palace” and “I Am a Boxer” as case studies, they outlined the process by which original ideas conceived in Korea grow into content IP that resonates in the global market.
“Couple Palace” made history as the first Korean variety show to win the Gold Award in the Light Entertainment category at the 2025 Venice TV Awards and recently signed remake option agreements with 10 European countries. “I Am a Boxer” reached global audiences through the international streaming platform Disney+ and demonstrated the global competitiveness of K-variety shows. Immediately after its release, the program entered the Disney+ Global Top 10 and ranked No. 1 in South Korea; it subsequently remained in the Global Top 10 for five consecutive weeks, garnering significant interest from international viewers.
Park Joong-hyuk, CRO of CJ ENM’s Mnet Plus, participated as a speaker in the session titled “Online Video Services (OTT) Evolving into Verticals: From K-Pop to K-Lifestyle,” where he introduced the growth strategies and future direction of global K-pop content platforms.
CRO Park emphasized, “The global fandom centered around K-pop is rapidly expanding beyond mere content consumption into the realms of community, commerce, and lifestyle,” adding, “Fan-centric platforms have now established themselves as the most critical pillar for K-content to expand its reach into the global market.”
Studio Dragon participated in the session titled “AI Transforming TV Drama Production: Use Cases and Process Innovation,” where it presented examples of AI technologies currently in use on drama production sets and outlined directions for innovating production processes.
Seo Hyun-seok, Head of the Tech Innovation Team at Studio Dragon, stated, “Throughout the entire drama planning and production stages, AI technology is being actively utilized to support creators’ capabilities and maximize production efficiency.” He outlined his vision, saying, “AI is more than just a support tool; it is a core technology that is changing the paradigm of content production. Going forward, we will lead the way in creating a future-oriented content production environment that combines technology and creativity.”
A CJ ENM official remarked, “K-content is now moving beyond the success of individual works and entering a new phase of growth through the organic integration of content IP, global K-pop content platforms, and AI technology.” The official continued, “Based on our differentiated content competitiveness, platform capabilities, and technological innovation, CJ ENM will continue to expand the new possibilities for K-content in the global market.”
KISF is Korea’s largest streaming platform festival, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Busan Metropolitan City. The event serves as a platform for sharing the latest technologies and global trends in the streaming industry, as well as OTT series, variety shows, and short-form content.