S.Korean content biz event in Indonesia targets SE Asian consumers

An export conference for South Korean content this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, targeted the Southeast Asian market's population of 600 million.

The Indonesia office of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) on Friday said it held from Tuesday through Thursday the Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) K-Content Bizweek at the Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel.

Held offline for the first time in three years after suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event attracted 28 South Korean companies in broadcasting, animation, character licensing, games and online platforms like CJ ENM Co., KBS Media and The Pinkfong Co.

Also attending were about 150 buyers from 59 businesses including terrestrial broadcasters, online streaming companies and toy makers from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The three-day event saw a combined 526 consultations on broadcast rights, animation distribution, joint production and investment, intellectual property licensing and publishing, with 21 contracts and memorandums of understanding signed.

"Over the three-day period, consultations brought in a combined $56 million (72.9 billion won) worth of deals," said Kim Young-soo, director of KOCCA's Indonesia office. "Korean content remains popular throughout Southeast Asia with growth of nearly 40% per year there, so this is the right time for content companies to enter the ASEAN market."

Write to Sun A Lee at suna@hankyung.com