Korean creators' global influence on the rise

Rumi, right, from the U.S.-produced animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” and Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, from the Korean series “Squid Game” / Courtesy of Netflix

The global expansion of Korean entertainment is shifting from selling shows abroad to sending creators into global productions. As the film industry grows more globally connected, collaborations merging Korean directors and actors backed by foreign capital and international crews are reshaping Hollywood filmmaking.

Director Yoon Je-kyun, known for the Korean box office hits "Ode to My Father" and "Haeundae," is entering Hollywood with the Taekwondo-themed action film "Belladonna." The project is bringing together Korean and American producers. Ahn Chang-beom, CEO of K-Tigers, and Red Packet Media led by "Rush Hour 3" producer Mike Leeder, serve as co-producers.

The film features music producers who previously worked on the Netflix animated hit, "KPop Demon Hunters," as well as with K-pop icons BLACKPINK and BTS. "KPop Demon Hunters" demonstrated how merging Korean cultural symbols and K-pop with a global production system captures worldwide attention.

This structural shift traces its roots to director Bong Joon-ho, who pushed the boundaries of international co-production with "Snowpiercer" in 2013, followed by "Okja" and "Mickey 17." The Academy Award-winning success of his non-English films proved that distinctly Korean stories resonate globally.

Promotional poster for Director Bong Joon-ho’s film, “Mickey 17” / Yonhap

The shift extends to the screen, with Korean actors crossing over into major foreign franchises. Jeon Jong-seo, who gained international acclaim for "Burning," is cast in the Hollywood blockbuster, "Highlander." This follows her previous overseas project, "Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon," which premiered in Korea in 2023.

Streaming services have sped up the shift. Foreign production crews reduce financial risk by casting proven Korean talent, while Korean creators gain access to international funding and broader distribution networks.

As multinational co-productions become the industry norm, the defining challenge remains whether Korean content can keep its cultural identity while reaching a global audience.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.