MIPTV today announces that Korea will be its 2020 Country of Honour. With some 19.5 million TV households and 30.8 million pay-TV subscribers, Korea is the most “wired” country in the world in relation to download speeds and streaming content. High smartphone adoption and low-cost subscription services means watching content on mobile devices is widespread, and more and more content is being created for consumption this way.
The Korea Country of Honour showcase is sponsored by Korea Communications Commission (KCC), responsible for policies in Korean broadcasting and communications services.
Korea’s exports of cultural content increased 8.4 percent in 2018 from the previous year, to $9.55 billion, according to recent government figures. Average annual growth between 2014 and 2017 was 16 percent, with exports of $5.27 billion in 2014, $5.66 billion in 2015, $6.08 billion in 2016 and $8.81 billion in 2017, according to a report on the content industry released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Domestic content industry sales were up 5.2 percent last year to $106 billion. KCC reports that the total number of TV titles exported in 2018 rose to 122,962, for revenue of $326.8 million.
Korean producers have had a string of recent international hits: MBC’s “The Masked Singer” became a global hit after launching on Fox in January 2019; “The Good Doctor”, ABC’s adaptation of a Korean drama from KBS, has been named the most-watched television drama in the world, with a global audience of almost 50 million viewers.
“We’re very proud to welcome Korea as Country of Honour at this year’s MIPTV. KCC will be promoting the excellence and creativity of the Korean production sector and its advanced broadcasting technology services. Through the events and showcases during MIPTV, delegates will have the opportunity to see the best of the Korean Wave of TV and online content, which has recently produced some huge international hits,” said Laurine Garaude, Director of Television Division at Reed MIDEM, which organises MIPTV.
“I am pleased that Korea participates in the Global Content Market for the Future as Country of Honour, and that we can showcase Korea’s outstanding broadcasting output to the rest of the world. Just like this event’s slogan - Korea, Story Connects Us -, I hope we can join hands with the world to together create a cooperation model in various sectors like production and distribution,” commented Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission.
“Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) is very proud that Korea is opening a new chapter in the history of MIPTV as Country of Honour 2020. With shows such as ‘The Good Doctor’ and ‘Oops, We Forgot your Order!’, Korean production has grown to become a global content powerhouse reaching beyond Asia,” said Hyun Min Park, Executive Director for Content Business Department at KBS.
“It’s a great honour to participate in MIPTV’s Country of Honour and introduce the appeal of K-Content to the world. As Korean production is gaining in visibility thanks to global hits like the Oscar-nominated movie ‘Parasite’ and some remarkable content formats, CJ ENM will contribute to showcasing the excellence of Korean content,” said Seo Jang-ho, SVP of the Content Business Division at CJ ENM.
As a content showcase, the MIPTV Korean focus will feature four conference sessions. On Monday 30 March, Fresh TV Korea will be hosted by Virginia Mouseler, The Wit’s CEO, preceded by a welcome address by the KCC Chairman. This will be followed by two sessions: Behind Korea’s Mega Hits and Korea’s Platform and Distribution Strategy. Tuesday 31 March will feature Co-Producing with Korea as part of the In Development programme.
There will also be ample matchmaking and networking opportunities, notably on Monday evening at the MIPTV Opening Networking Reception, with KCC as official partner. This will be followed on Tuesday by a matchmaking session, It's a Match with Korean Producers during which 10 Korean producers selected by KCC will meet with potential international partners.
Throughout MIPTV, there will be a dedicated “Korea Lounge” as part of the In Development zone with pitching and matchmaking sessions.
All Korea’s leading broadcasters will be present at MIPTV 2020, including Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corp (MBC), Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), and the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS), along with cable operators CJ ENM and JTBC.
Previous Countries of Honour and Country Focuses at both MIPTV and MIPCOM include France, China, Russia, Japan, Germany, Turkey, Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden), Mexico, Israel, and Argentina.