[Edaily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] Netflix is joining forces with the Korean Film Council and the Korean Film Academy to support the development of talent in the domestic film and video industry. The initiative aims to strengthen the capabilities of domestic creative professionals and expand the production ecosystem by sharing everything from global content planning strategies to practical know-how from the production floor.

On the 10th, Ha Jeong-soo, Director of Netflix Korea’s Content Production Division, and Kim Ki-jae, Creative Executive (CE) of Netflix Korea’s Content Division, served as speakers at the Korean Film Council’s “KAFA+ Filmmaker Education: Understanding Netflix’s Global Strategy and Production,” held at the Korean Film Archive’s Cinematheque.

The session was attended by 120 participants, including film and video industry professionals and aspiring filmmakers—such as students majoring in film and video, program graduates, creators with credits in feature films or OTT productions, and those with experience in related fields. Key personnel from Netflix who have been responsible for the planning and production of Korean content took the stage to share their insights on content planning strategies and the experience they’ve accumulated throughout the production process.

◇ Global Content Planning Starting with “K”
CE Kim Ki-jae delivered a lecture titled “Understanding Netflix’s Global Strategy: Planning in the ‘Local for Local’ Era.” He emphasized that to create content competitive in the global market, it is important to start with Korean stories rather than targeting overseas markets first.

Citing the Netflix series “D.P.” as an example, he explained that stories rooted in the realities and characters of Korean society can resonate across borders. He continued, “The ‘Local for Local’ approach—starting with the stories that Korean creators excel at and the stories that Korean viewers love—is crucial.” He explained that adding new elements to familiar themes can spark viewers’ curiosity and anticipation.

He also outlined how Netflix has broadened the range of themes and genres in Korean content. Beginning with “Yoo Byung-jae: Black Comedy” in 2018, the platform introduced works featuring new themes and bold genre experiments, such as “Kingdom” and “Lessons of Humanity.” Subsequently, through series like “Squid Game” and “D.P.”—which combine the unique characteristics of Korean society with genre-driven entertainment—Netflix introduced distinctly Korean stories to the global market. It has also expanded its content portfolio into variety shows, including “Physical: 100,” “The Black and White Chef: The War of Culinary Classes,” and “Solo Hell.”

Recently, through collaborations with various creators—including director Lee Chang-dong and writers Kim Eun-sook and Im Sang-chun—Netflix has been releasing works across multiple genres, such as the film *Possible Love* and the series *The Glory* and *I’ve Been Completely Duped*.

According to Netflix, from 2016—when it launched in Korea—through 2025, the company has collaborated with more than 80 production companies to produce or co-produce over 200 Korean titles. These productions involved approximately 25,000 cast and crew members, as well as about 70,000 extras and day-laborers. Filming took place in more than 100 cities and towns across the country.

◇From Safe Production Environments to the Use of Cutting-Edge Technology
Director Ha Jeong-soo presented on the topic “Understanding Netflix Productions for Professionals in the Korean Film and Television Industry,” introducing practical aspects of production and examples of technology utilization. He focused on the process of bringing creators’ visions to life through production expertise, technological innovation, and collaboration with partners.

Director Ha explained that Netflix works closely with partners from the early stages of production to ensure creators and production teams can perform at their best in a safe and respectful environment. He noted that the company has established procedures to facilitate smooth and safe collaboration among on-set members, ranging from an onboarding process that shares production procedures and technical standards to “Respect” sessions attended by actors and staff before filming begins.

He also presented case studies for specific productions. For “Physical: 100,” potential risks were identified and mitigated through expert consultation and pre-production simulations. Regarding “Solo Hell,” he noted that the production team is committed to protecting participants by conducting health checkups, psychological evaluations, and background checks, as well as providing psychological counseling even after filming wraps.

The importance of leveraging technology was also emphasized. Director Ha stated, “It is important to embrace and apply new technologies with an open mind,” and introduced technologies designed to enhance the viewing experience, such as 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos sound. Citing *Okja*—the first Netflix film to feature both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos—as an example, he explained that color, texture, and immersive sound convey the creator’s intent and the spaces within the work more vividly.

Using the tug-of-war scene from Season 1 of *Squid Game* as an example, he shared the process of visualizing a scene before filming and designing the scope of set and visual effects (VFX) usage. He explained that deciding in advance on the appropriate production methods—such as backdrops (printed background screens) or LEDs—when rendering the scenery outside a window can reduce the burden of post-production and allow for efficient management of the budget and shooting schedule.

The role of the post-supervisor, who bridges the gap between the filming set and post-production, was also introduced. The post-supervisor is responsible for coordinating communication between the filming set and post-production, as well as discussing budget, schedule, and the quality of the final product with producers and directors. Netflix announced that it has trained 71 post-supervisors to date.

Following the lecture, a panel discussion moderated by pop columnist Kim Tae-hoon took place, focusing on opportunities for emerging creators and the professional growth of production staff. The two speakers discussed the importance of collaborating with new talent, educational programs and exchanges that share on-set experiences, and opportunities to showcase finished works to audiences.

Director Ha stated, “Curiosity is the most important quality for a creator,” adding, “An attitude of constantly asking questions and exploring new possibilities is the driving force behind creating great content.” CE Kim Ki-jae encouraged creators to take on new challenges, emphasizing the importance of continuous reflection and passion for the stories they want to tell.

◇Moving Beyond Education to the Industry… Achievements in Cultivating Professional Talent
Since 2024, Netflix has been running “Grow Creative,” a training campaign to cultivate production professionals and share production expertise and experience with the domestic industry. Through the “KOCCA × NETFLIX Production Academy,” a collaboration with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the company is also sharing production know-how—from content planning to filming and post-production—with industry professionals and aspiring creators.

There are also cases where training has led to actual employment and participation in productions. The VFX training program, run by Netflix and the Korea Radio Promotion Association for two years and six months from November 2022 to June 2025, saw approximately 330 participants across five cohorts. Approximately 70% of graduates from Cohorts 1 through 4 secured jobs in the industry, and 32 of them were hired by companies that participated in the training program and are Netflix partners. Graduates who found employment contributed to 39 Netflix productions, both domestic and international, including “Squid Game” Seasons 2 and 3 and “I’ve Been Completely Duped.”

Director Ha said, “We launched this training program based on the belief that widely sharing production experience and technical skills will enable more creators to utilize them, and that these capabilities will spread throughout the industry, leading to even better Korean content.”

An official from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) remarked, “It is meaningful that, through our collaboration with Netflix, we can provide domestic filmmakers with experience in planning and producing global content, as well as practical know-how applicable on set.” The official added, “We hope this training program will serve as an opportunity for filmmakers to broaden their creative horizons, and we will continue to collaborate with the industry to expand educational opportunities that support the growth of the next generation of talent.”

A Netflix spokesperson remarked, “The power to share Korean stories with the world comes from creators and talent on the production floor.” They continued, “We hope that the planning and production insights shared with the Korean Film Council will help domestic filmmakers embark on new creative endeavors, and we will continue to expand opportunities for more talent to learn and grow within Korea’s creative ecosystem.”