K-Content Crossing the Sea... CKL Tokyo Boosts It

An Average of Three Business Meetings a Day... Co-Productions Already Underway
The Pinkfong Company Gains Momentum in Musicals and New Businesses
"Strong Interest in Japan... A Great Opportunity for Korean Companies"

The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) CKL Tokyo is busy welcoming guests every day. Since its opening last November, an average of three business meetings are held daily. Nine out of ten visitors are stakeholders from the Korean and Japanese content industries. They explore cooperation methods or concretize projects across various fields such as broadcasting, gaming, animation, music, and webtoons. Some companies have already started co-productions and are working closely together.

The Pinkfong Company will present the 'Bebepin' musical performance at Japan's 'Asobi Manabi Festa' for two days starting from the 5th.

Jayuropictures, which produced films like "Our Times," is a representative example. They are producing dramas to be distributed on CJ ENM Japan and global online video services (OTT), and planning and developing dramas to be aired locally on Japanese terrestrial broadcasters. They gather opinions in a conference room equipped with an electronic whiteboard and check costumes and props in the 100-seat seminar room called the Interactive Hall.

The secret to their smooth progress is frequent meetings and discussions. Jayuropictures established a branch office at CKL Tokyo. Selected as a resident company last year, they receive support not only for office space but also for legal, tax, and accounting consulting, contract review, and promotion and marketing. Other companies enjoying these benefits include ▲'Indicom' and 'Even ENT' in broadcasting and film ▲'To You Dream,' 'DCC ENT,' 'Monster Riot,' and 'CNC Revolution' in comics and webtoons ▲'The Pinkfong Company' and 'SAMG Entertainment' in animation and character fields ▲'Nemo's Lab' and 'JMJ' in music ▲'Skywalk' in gaming ▲'HJ Culture' in musicals ▲'Two Hands Interactive' and 'Anipen' in augmented reality (AR). All of them aim to create new revenue streams in the Japanese market.

The Korea Creative Content Agency established CKL Tokyo in Toranomon Hills, a bustling district in Tokyo, Japan.

Lee Hye-eun, head of KOCCA Tokyo Business Center operating CKL Tokyo, said, "Most collaborations involve drama co-productions and animation adaptations of comic and webtoon intellectual properties (IP). Since Korean content is well recognized in Japan, the process generally goes smoothly." Some companies have already achieved meaningful results. The Pinkfong Company, which owns super IPs like "Pinkfong" and "Baby Shark," leverages its experience operating corporations in the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and Singapore to develop various character businesses. From the 5th for two days, they will present the "Bebepin" performance at the "Asobi Manabi Festa" hosted by TBS, and conduct a "Pinkfong" musical tour in major Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Chiba, and Kobe.

Joo Hye-min, Chief Business Development Officer (CBO) and head of the Japanese branch, said, "Since 2022, we have entered the Japanese market in various ways and accelerated new business." The pop-up store created last year in collaboration with the local kids' cafe Little Planet attracted about 128,000 visitors. The sound book released last year sold over 130,000 copies in six months, and the webtoon "Moon Shark: The Shark Who Rides Stardom" was serviced on Naver Webtoon's Japanese platform "LINE Manga," gaining popularity. Joo CBO stated, "We plan to fully activate content distribution, offline performances, and partnership businesses based on the recognition and influence of the IPs we have built up."

Lee Hye-eun, head of the Korea Creative Content Agency's Tokyo Business Center, has high expectations for the screening, pitching, and other events starting next month.

CKL Tokyo is preparing various programs to boost such businesses. This month, it signed business agreements with multiple local related organizations, and from next month, it will hold events such as screenings and pitchings to facilitate business matching. The center head said, "There is a growing atmosphere in Japan focusing on the potential of the content industry, and related government agencies and companies are already showing interest."

Japan is recently revising its content export strategy. Led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, it actively supports overseas expansion of animation, music, gaming, and more. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also encourages domestic companies to build competitiveness through partnerships with educational institutions and collaborations with overseas companies. The center head said, "The country we watch most closely is Korea," adding, "Since interest is high, business matching can be an excellent opportunity for domestic companies."