The Series Mania Forum has designated the Republic of Korea as its first-ever Country of Honor, underscoring Korea's significant global influence in content production and development. This initiative will bring a distinguished group of Korean entertainment companies to the industry event in Lille, France, from March 24-26. The move aims to foster deeper collaborations and spotlight Korea's flourishing entertainment sector on an international stage, building upon its already robust presence in recent editions of the forum.
This landmark decision was publicly announced by Laurence Herszberg, the founder and general director of Series Mania, who commended Korea's exceptional creativity in both film and audiovisual productions. The event aligns perfectly with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, a relationship that began with the 1886 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation. This special recognition by Series Mania reciprocates France's similar honor at last year's BroadCast Worldwide, Asia’s premier broadcast content marketing event held in Seoul.
A notable delegation, spearheaded by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), will represent Korea. This delegation includes eight prominent companies: Channel A Corporation, CJ ENM, EO Content Group, KBS Media, MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corp.), SLL Joongang, Studio S, and Whynot Media. Their participation is supported by France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC), following a memorandum of understanding signed between KOCCA and CNC during Series Mania 2024 to enhance France-Korea content industry growth and exchange.
The dedicated Korean programming at the forum will feature a 'Coming Next from Korea' session, various conference panels with Korean speakers, and a dedicated networking reception, among other events. This comprehensive focus aims to showcase the breadth and depth of Korean content, which saw its market value climb to $43.1 billion in 2024, marking a 5.7% increase from 2023 and solidifying its position as the world’s eighth-largest content market. Furthermore, Korean content viewership in France has experienced a dramatic surge, increasing over 200% year-over-year on platforms like Netflix, alongside expanded presence on traditional French broadcast channels.
Moonju Kim, general director of KOCCA France, expressed hope that Series Mania will serve as a crucial platform to deepen mutual understanding and foster sustainable cooperation, including co-production and investment opportunities between Korea and France. She highlighted the role of Korean storytelling, exemplified by global hits such as 'Squid Game' and 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,' in captivating international audiences. Series Mania, established in Lille since 2018, has grown into a leading television series event, drawing over 108,000 spectators to its festival and 5,000 professionals from more than 75 countries to its forum, underscoring its significant role in the global content industry.