Yoon Sanghyun Announces "Investment Scale to Increase by 150 Billion KRW"
Minimizing Risks Through TVING's Global Expansion
Introduction of 'Reimbursement Settlement' System at the End of Last Year
CJ ENM, which has showcased diverse content across movies, dramas, and entertainment, is making a bold move to mark the 30th anniversary of its cultural business launch. The company plans to increase its investment scale and release the largest amount of content ever.
Yoon Sang-hyun, CEO of CJ ENM, is delivering a greeting at the 'CJ ENM Content Talk 2025' held on the 10th at the Sangam Center building in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Photo by CJ ENM]
On the 10th, CEO Yoon Sang-hyun stated at the 'CJ ENM Content Talk 2025' held at the Sangam Center building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, "We will expand the annual investment scale, which has been sustained at around 1 trillion KRW, by more than 150 billion KRW this year," adding, "We will release sixty-five pieces of content within the year."
The volume offensive appears to be highly adventurous. Although CJ ENM has competed with Netflix for viewers, it has repeatedly fallen behind in capital and technological capabilities. The introduction of a 40-hour workweek, increased filming episodes, and rising production costs have also increased the risks involved in content production.
Once production costs rise, they do not decrease unless the market collapses. In the past 100 years of media history, there has never been a market where production costs for globally expanding content have decreased.
CEO Yoon acknowledged the difficult reality but emphasized, "We have persevered through countless hardships over the past 30 years. We will not remain in the past 30 years but will continue to move forward vigorously."
The new driving force is expected to come from overseas. Current production costs may be excessive if targeting only the domestic and Southeast Asian markets, but they still fall short of global market standards.
Persons in charge introducing this year's content at 'CJ ENM Content Talk 2025.' From the left, Kim Ryunhee, CP of Studio Dragon; Kim Hojun, CP of Studio S; Kim Inha, PD of 'Hwansung Yeonae'; Jeong Cheolmin, PD of 'Sixth Sense: City Tour'; Lee Wonhyung, CP of 'Unniene Sanjijiksong'
Last year, CJ ENM caught a glimpse of crossing boundaries with tvN dramas. In the 'Top 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024' announced by the UK’s leading pop culture magazine NME, 'Queen of Tears' ranked first, 'Seonjae Upgo Twieo' ranked second, and 'Marry My Husband' ranked third. In the 'Top 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024' released by the US newsweekly Time, 'Seonjae Upgo Twieo' and 'Jeongneoni' were ranked first and second, respectively.
CEO Yoon stated, "We will produce more, try new attempts, innovate the production system, and strengthen our ultra-competitive content capabilities to sell better in the global market." Here, 'sell' does not simply mean supplying content. It also implies the global establishment of the online video service (OTT) platform TVING.
Min Seon-hong, Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TVING, said, "We are making this year the inaugural year of TVING’s global expansion and will begin full-scale growth." Although no specific plans were disclosed, many insiders expect the outline to emerge in the second half of the year.
Innovation in the production system has already begun in earnest. At the end of last year, a 'reimbursement settlement' system was introduced, where production companies bill for actual expenses on a case-by-case basis. Kim Ryun-hee, CP of Studio Dragon, said, "Although there were structural difficulties in applying this to the drama industry, we have pioneered its establishment to ensure transparency in production costs while creating a mutually beneficial production environment." A Studio Dragon official added, "Last year, we recruited multiple experts to establish conditions for efficient and reasonable production cost expenditures."
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