Korean Content Dominates Global Stage... Surpassing Spanish to Rank Second Only to English

Korean content is expanding its global influence significantly. Korean-language content has surpassed Spanish to become the second most popular language-based content globally, right after English. According to data presented by Maria Lua Agete of Omdia at an event held last week under the name “K-FAST” and organized jointly by Le Serafim Media, the Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea, and the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association (KAIT), Netflix possesses a much larger quantity of Korean content compared to its competitors. U.S.-based streaming services such as Warner and Disney are also actively seeking out Korean content known as “K-content.” Several factors contribute to South Korea’s ability to produce high-quality global content across various fields, with music and dramas being key areas. Technology plays a crucial role here. World-class electronics companies like Samsung and LG operate from South Korea, and combined with government investment in infrastructure, Korean producers can utilize cutting-edge technology to create polished and professional content. Whether it is music or dramas, the final products deliver a sophisticated and premium feel. Government support also serves an important function. The South Korean government is deeply involved in fostering the content industry, offering substantial financial aid to creative industry startups, building concert halls and production facilities equipped with the latest technology, and actively promoting Korean culture on the international stage. The success of K-pop relies on its unique “idol” system. Entertainment companies recruit rappers and singers at a young age, subject them to years of intensive training, and build strong fanbases by fostering deep connections with fans through dedicated apps and live streams. Beyond K-pop, South Korea’s music industry is growing in various genres. Gotaam Talwa, Spotify’s Asia-Pacific head, stated that “K-pop artists are achieving borderless growth across the continent through our collaboration,” adding that “the latest trends in Korean music are not limited to K-pop alone.” Talwa explained that “indie rock is making breakthroughs on the platform, recording high stream numbers in Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and other regions.” He also noted that “hip-hop is currently popular, and these genres represent the tastes of listeners not only in South Korea but across all of Asia.” Spotify has seen a 168% year-on-year growth in monthly active users in South Korea, with strong growth observed among both paid and free users.