Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 1 hr ago
South Korean drama groups seek 1 trillion won in support
Twelve groups representing South Korean drama makers and workers called for government support at a news conference in Seoul on Wednesday.
They said the number of dramas produced in South Korea fell about 30% from 141 titles in 2022.
Drama schedules at the country’s three major broadcast networks also shrank, from 91 titles in 2012 to 32 in 2023.
The groups say rising production costs, lower advertising income and difficulties earning money from drama rights have all contributed to the decline.
They warn that fewer productions mean fewer jobs and could weaken the production base behind K-dramas.
Their proposal is for a 1 trillion won support fund over five years, with government, broadcasters and platforms sharing the cost of making dramas.
They also want global streaming platforms to share more revenue from drama rights, while the industry says it will work on lower costs and fairer production practices.
Twelve South Korean drama industry groups called on the government and parliament to establish a 1 trillion won support and investment system for K-dramas.
They warned that the country’s drama production base was at risk as production volumes fell by about 30 per cent from 2022.
The groups said lower advertising revenue, rising production costs and difficulty securing intellectual-property and follow-on revenues were contributing to the decline.
Their proposed plan would provide 200 billion won a year for five years, with broadcasters and platforms covering the remaining half of estimated production costs.
The groups also called for a national target to restore annual drama production and a coordinated government response.
- Who
- Twelve South Korean drama industry groups, including producers, broadcasters and writers.
- What
- They urged the government and parliament to create a 1 trillion won, long-term K-drama investment and support system.
- When
- November 4, 2026.
- Where
- A joint news conference at the Korea Press Center in Jung District, Seoul.
- Why
- They said falling production volumes threatened the drama production base, jobs and the wider industry.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The three terrestrial broadcasters scheduled 91 drama titles.
South Korea produced 141 drama titles.
The three terrestrial broadcasters scheduled 32 drama titles, down from 91 in 2012.
Twelve industry groups held a joint news conference in Seoul and called for a 1 trillion won support system.
- Industry groups
- 12
- Requested support
- 1 trillion won over the medium to long term
- Proposed annual contribution
- 200 billion won for five years
- Drama production
- About 30 per cent fewer titles than in 2022
- Terrestrial drama schedules
- 91 titles in 2012; 32 in 2023
3 sources
What people are saying
When the number of works decreases, jobs disappear, and a production site that has once collapsed is truly hard to restore.
A structure in which global OTTs and the domestic drama production industry can share IP revenue, and profit distribution based on success rates, is needed.
Story creators are moving to other genres such as webtoons and games.