Korea maps strategy for Hollywood push

Feb 02, 2026, 07:59 am

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Scenes from The King of Kings (left) and Begonia, cited as model cases of ideal Korea–US film collaboration. / Distation, CJ ENM

A new study has found that for Korean films to successfully penetrate Hollywood and the broader North American market, stronger intellectual property (IP) negotiation power and a more robust business infrastructure must be put in place as prerequisites.

Last week, the Korean Film Council released the findings of a study titled Support Measures to Promote Korean Films’ Entry into North America and Co-productions, which explores ways to invigorate overseas expansion as a new growth engine for the Korean film industry.

According to the council, the research examined several key case studies, including Begonia, a Hollywood remake of the Korean cult film Save the Green Planet!, the Korean animated feature The King of Kings, which successfully entered the North American market last year, and Bedford Park, starring Choi Hee-seo and Son Suk-ku, which drew positive responses at the Sundance Film Festival.

Researchers, including Associate Professor Lee Sung-min of Korea National Open University and senior researcher Lee Ji-hyun of the Korean Film Council, noted that while collaboration between the Korean and US film industries has increased alongside the global rise of K-content, significant financial, legal and institutional barriers remain.

They pointed out that although some projects — such as The King of Kings, led by Korean capital and planning and produced in English for global audiences — have achieved success, many others have not. A lack of understanding on the Korean side of Hollywood’s closed, union-centered production system and its complex distribution practices often results in a loss of on-site leadership and inefficient use of capital, the study found.

At the same time, examples such as Bedford Park, which brought together North American production companies and Korean actors, and Begonia, produced by major Korean studio CJ ENM using local US production systems, demonstrate that synergies can be created when personnel from both countries collaborate from the planning stage. However, conflicts between Korean labor regulations and North American production systems, as well as insufficient legal support that weakens Korea’s bargaining position, have at times prevented Korean partners from fully sharing in the success.

To address these challenges, the researchers argued that a paradigm shift in North America–focused support policies is needed, built on two pillars: enhancing IP negotiation power and constructing practical infrastructure that accelerates business execution.

They proposed 10 policy measures, including revising criteria for recognizing co-produced films as Korean productions, establishing strategic footholds in North America, expanding strategic investment in global projects, improving loan and financing conditions for co-productions, supporting international co-production development, and increasing location incentives for film and audiovisual projects.

Han Sang-joon, chairman of the Korean Film Council, said the importance of the North American market is growing as a new growth avenue for the Korean film industry.

“With a shift in policy paradigm toward North America and the establishment of an implementation framework centered on on-the-ground demand, we hope this study will serve as a key reference for advancing policies to promote Korean films’ expansion and co-production in the region,” Han said.

#Korean cinema #Hollywood expansion #North America market #IP negotiation power #co-production