Driving billions in revenue and billions more in global streaming hours, South Korea's media industry—from record-breaking K-drama exports and K-pop tours to a booming film recovery and digital advertising surge—is not just thriving but decisively shaping the future of global entertainment.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Korea's television broadcasting revenue reached 5.2 trillion KRW, marking a 3.5% increase from the previous year driven by advertising and subscription growth
- The number of terrestrial TV channels in South Korea stood at 15 major networks in 2023, with KBS, MBC, and SBS dominating 70% of viewership share
- K-drama exports generated 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022, up 20% YoY, primarily to Asia and the US markets
- In 2023, South Korea's film industry box office revenue reached 1.43 trillion KRW, a 106% increase from 2022, driven by hits like 'The Roundup' series
- Number of Korean films released in 2023 was 1,160, up 18% from 2022
- 'Oppenheimer' grossed 9.5 billion KRW in Korea in 2023, but local films captured 63% market share
- In 2023, South Korea's music market revenue hit 9,022 billion KRW, up 10.6% YoY, led by streaming
- Streaming accounted for 82.3% of total music revenue in Korea in 2023
- Physical album sales reached 50 million units in 2023, a 35% increase driven by K-pop
- In 2023, Netflix's Korean content hours viewed reached 2.5 billion globally
- Wavve subscribers grew to 6.5 million in 2023
- YouTube monthly active users in Korea hit 45 million in 2023, 88% penetration
- In 2023, South Korea's media advertising market totaled 7.5 trillion KRW, up 8% YoY
- Digital ads comprised 65% of total ad spend in Korea 2023
- Overall content industry value was 137 trillion KRW in 2022, projected 150 trillion in 2023
The Korean media industry thrives globally through strong TV drama exports, a booming K-pop market, and increasing digital adoption.
Advertising and Market Statistics
- In 2023, South Korea's media advertising market totaled 7.5 trillion KRW, up 8% YoY
- Digital ads comprised 65% of total ad spend in Korea 2023
- Overall content industry value was 137 trillion KRW in 2022, projected 150 trillion in 2023
- TV ads still held 25% share at 2.5 trillion KRW in 2023
- Programmatic advertising volume grew 30% to 1 trillion KRW in 2023
- Newspaper ad revenue declined 10% to 500 billion KRW in 2023
- Social media ad spend reached 2 trillion KRW in 2023, led by Kakao and Naver
- OOH advertising grew 15% to 800 billion KRW post-COVID in 2023
- Media agency market size was 3 trillion KRW in 2023
- Influencer marketing spend hit 500 billion KRW in 2023
- Search ads on Naver and Google totaled 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023
- Radio ad revenue stable at 300 billion KRW in 2023
- CTV/OTT ad impressions grew 50% to 100 billion in 2023
- Magazine ads fell 15% to 200 billion KRW in 2023
- Total media market CAGR projected 5% through 2027 from 2023 base
- Gaming ads within media ecosystem was 400 billion KRW in 2023
- Brand sponsorships in media events totaled 300 billion KRW in 2023
- Mobile app install ads surged 40% in 2023
- Public service ads allocation was 10% of TV budget in 2023
- E-commerce live stream ads generated 5 trillion KRW impact in 2023
- DOOH digital out-of-home screens numbered 20,000 in 2023
- Ad tech investments by media firms hit 200 billion KRW in 2023
- Cinema advertising revenue recovered to 150 billion KRW in 2023
- Data-driven targeting used in 70% of digital campaigns in 2023
Advertising and Market Statistics Interpretation
South Korea's media industry is a high-stakes game of digital musical chairs where everyone is frantically chasing eyeballs online, yet somehow the TV still hasn't gotten the memo to leave the party.
Digital and Streaming Media
- In 2023, Netflix's Korean content hours viewed reached 2.5 billion globally
- Wavve subscribers grew to 6.5 million in 2023
- YouTube monthly active users in Korea hit 45 million in 2023, 88% penetration
- Tving platform's original content budget was 500 billion KRW in 2023
- Kakao TV views exceeded 10 billion annually in 2023
- OTT market revenue in Korea reached 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023, up 25%
- Disney+ Korea subscribers numbered 2 million by end 2023
- Short-form video app usage averaged 90 minutes daily per user in 2023
- Naver TV's webdrama views hit 5 billion in 2023
- Podcast listeners in Korea reached 12 million monthly in 2023
- Twitch streaming hours from Korea grew 40% to 500 million in 2023
- Viki (Rakuten) had 20 million MAU for K-content in 2023
- Social media video consumption was 70% of total internet traffic in 2023
- Watcha OTT revenue doubled to 150 billion KRW in 2023
- AfreecaTV broadcasters numbered 100,000 active in 2023
- Korean webtoons adapted to streaming hit 50 titles in 2023
- Mobile video streaming penetration was 95% in 2023
- Genie TV subscribers reached 3 million in 2023
- UGC platforms like Shorts generated 1 trillion views monthly in 2023
- EBS online education streams peaked at 10 million daily during 2023
- IPTV video-on-demand requests hit 2 billion in 2023
- TikTok Korea users averaged 1.2 hours daily in 2023
- Coupang Play invested 300 billion KRW in originals 2023
- Live commerce video sales via media apps was 20 trillion KRW in 2023
- VR media content consumption grew 50% in 2023
- Podcast market revenue was 100 billion KRW in 2023
- YouTube Premium subscribers in Korea doubled to 4 million in 2023
- Webnovel apps like Ridibooks had 15 million MAU in 2023
- 5G-enabled streaming quality improved 4K adoption to 60% in 2023
- Digital media exports including streaming rights hit 500 billion KRW in 2023
- Influencer video content monetization reached 1 trillion KRW in 2023
Digital and Streaming Media Interpretation
South Korea’s media ecosystem has officially become a high-stakes, high-speed drama itself, where seemingly every screen is either streaming, scrolling, or selling something at a breathtaking, multi-trillion-won pace.
Film Industry
- In 2023, South Korea's film industry box office revenue reached 1.43 trillion KRW, a 106% increase from 2022, driven by hits like 'The Roundup' series
- Number of Korean films released in 2023 was 1,160, up 18% from 2022
- 'Oppenheimer' grossed 9.5 billion KRW in Korea in 2023, but local films captured 63% market share
- Average ticket price for movies in South Korea was 13,000 KRW in 2023
- Total cinema admissions in 2023 hit 102.1 million, recovering 78% of pre-pandemic levels
- Korean films exported to 170 countries in 2023, generating $100 million USD
- Multiplex screens numbered 2,248 in South Korea as of 2023
- CJ ENM's film division revenue was 450 billion KRW in 2023
- 'Parasite' follow-up effects boosted arthouse film attendance by 15% in 2023
- Film production companies in Korea totaled 1,200 in 2023
- Overseas sales of Korean films reached 28.6 billion KRW in 2023
- IMAX screenings contributed 5% of total box office in 2023
- Women directors helmed 22% of Korean films in 2023, up from 15% in 2020
- Busan International Film Festival screened 284 films from 78 countries in 2023
- Film VOD revenue grew 25% to 300 billion KRW in 2023
- Top grossing Korean film 'The Roundup: Punishment' earned 139 billion KRW domestically in 2023
- Cinema chains like CGV operated 1,600 screens in 2023
- Government subsidy for films was 150 billion KRW in 2023 via KOFIC
- 4DX format tickets accounted for 8% of admissions in 2023
- Indie films represented 40% of releases but only 10% box office share in 2023
- Film industry employment was 120,000 in 2023
- Hollywood imports share dropped to 30% in 2023 from 45% pre-pandemic
- Jeonju International Film Festival featured 200+ films in 2023
- Average production budget for Korean blockbusters was 10 billion KRW in 2023
- Film export growth rate was 45% YoY in 2023
- ScreenX theaters numbered 20 in Korea by 2023
- Women audience share was 55% of total cinema goers in 2023
- Film festivals in Korea hosted 50 events annually in 2023
- VFX spending in Korean films rose 30% to 200 billion KRW in 2023
- 'Smugglers' grossed 25 billion KRW with 2.1 million admissions in 2023
Film Industry Interpretation
South Korea's film industry, bolstered by government support and booming exports, proves its global clout as local hits confidently out-earn Hollywood giants like 'Oppenheimer' at home, even while indie films still struggle for a sliver of the box office spotlight.
Music Industry
- In 2023, South Korea's music market revenue hit 9,022 billion KRW, up 10.6% YoY, led by streaming
- Streaming accounted for 82.3% of total music revenue in Korea in 2023
- Physical album sales reached 50 million units in 2023, a 35% increase driven by K-pop
- K-pop exports generated 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023
- Number of music releases in Korea was 45,000 in 2023, up 12%
- BTS generated $5 billion USD economic impact for Korea in 2023 estimates
- Melon streaming platform had 20 million monthly active users in 2023
- Top artist IVE's 'Eleven' topped charts for 12 weeks in 2023
- Concert ticket sales revenue was 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023, post-pandemic boom
- K-pop idol groups numbered 300 active in 2023
- Spotify's Korean music streams grew 50% to 2 billion monthly in 2023
- HYBE revenue from music was 2.2 trillion KRW in 2023
- Music publishing royalties totaled 300 billion KRW in 2023
- BLACKPINK world tour grossed $260 million USD in 2023
- Digital download sales declined 20% to 100 billion KRW in 2023
- Music industry employment was 40,000 in 2023
- NewJeans' streams hit 1 billion on Spotify in 2023
- K-pop fan clubs overseas exceeded 100 million members in 2023
- Sync licensing for K-pop in ads/TV was 50 billion KRW in 2023
- Seventeen's album 'FML' sold 6.2 million copies in first week 2023
- Music streaming subscribers reached 25 million in Korea 2023
- Classical music market share was 2% in 2023
- Indie music labels produced 15% of top 100 charts in 2023
- KCON events attracted 1 million attendees globally in 2023
- Merchandise sales from K-pop concerts hit 400 billion KRW in 2023
- Stray Kids topped Billboard Global 200 for 10 weeks in 2023
- Music video views on YouTube from Korea exceeded 100 billion in 2023
- SM Entertainment's net profit rose 200% to 100 billion KRW in 2023
- Trot music genre saw 15% revenue growth in 2023 among seniors
- Global K-pop streaming revenue share for Korea was 4.5% in 2023
Music Industry Interpretation
While Korea’s music industry thrives on a tidal wave of streaming revenue and record-breaking physical sales—proving that fans will happily pay for both convenience and collectible cardboard—the sheer volume of releases, concerts, and global fan clubs underscores a meticulously engineered cultural powerhouse where even the sync licensing for a commercial could fund a small indie label's entire annual output.
Television Broadcasting
- In 2022, South Korea's television broadcasting revenue reached 5.2 trillion KRW, marking a 3.5% increase from the previous year driven by advertising and subscription growth
- The number of terrestrial TV channels in South Korea stood at 15 major networks in 2023, with KBS, MBC, and SBS dominating 70% of viewership share
- K-drama exports generated 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022, up 20% YoY, primarily to Asia and the US markets
- Average daily TV viewership in South Korea was 3.2 hours per person in 2023, down 5% from 2022 due to streaming shift
- Public broadcaster KBS had a 28.5% audience share in prime time slots during 2023
- Cable TV subscribers in South Korea numbered 18.4 million in 2022, representing 35% of households
- IPTV penetration reached 62% of South Korean households in 2023, surpassing cable TV
- Top K-drama 'The Glory' achieved 622.8 million viewing hours on Netflix globally in 2023
- MBC's variety show 'I Live Alone' averaged 4.2% nationwide ratings in 2023
- South Korea produced 320 new TV dramas in 2022, a 15% increase from 2021
- Terrestrial TV advertising spend was 2.1 trillion KRW in 2022, accounting for 40% of total TV ad market
- SBS network exported dramas to 120 countries in 2023, generating $150 million USD
- Pay TV households grew to 15.7 million in 2023, up 2%
- KBS World channel reached 100 million cumulative viewers overseas by 2023
- Prime time drama ratings peaked at 18.4% for 'Reborn Rich' in late 2022
- South Korea's TV content export volume hit 45,000 hours in 2022
- Digital terrestrial TV adoption was 95% nationwide in 2023
- Variety shows captured 25% of total TV airtime in 2023
- JTBC's market share rose to 12.3% in 2023 from 10.5% in 2022
- News programs averaged 15% viewership share across major networks in 2023
- South Korea's TV industry employed 25,000 people directly in 2022
- Overseas K-drama streaming views exceeded 10 billion in 2023
- Cable TV ad revenue declined 4% to 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023
- tvN channel's 'Alchemy of Souls' topped cable ratings at 12.1% in 2023
- Public TV funding via license fee was 700 billion KRW in 2023
- K-drama production costs averaged 2.5 billion KRW per episode in 2023
- International co-productions for TV dramas numbered 45 in 2022
- TV viewership among 20-39 year-olds dropped to 1.8 hours daily in 2023
- SBS Drama Awards viewership hit 5 million in 2023
- Total TV content investment was 4.8 trillion KRW in 2022
Television Broadcasting Interpretation
South Korea's TV industry, with one foot triumphantly planted in the world's streaming queues thanks to a K-drama explosion and the other stubbornly stuck in its traditional terrestrial powerhouse, is performing a remarkably profitable, if slightly precarious, split.
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