Gitnux/Report 2026

Korean Animation Industry Statistics

With streaming platforms driving 720 billion KRW of Korean animation revenue in 2023, Korean studios are scaling fast while their added value reached 900 billion KRW and employment rose to 12,500, even as webtoon adaptations still power 70% of new projects. See how exports, OTT licensing, AI and R&D investment, and IP derivative growth reshape the market from screens to merchandise and beyond.
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June 18, 2026Updated
Korean Animation Industry Statistics
Daniel VargaWritten by Daniel Varga·Edited by Elena Vasquez·Fact-checked by Olivia Thornton
Published ·Updated
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Korean animation revenue reached 1.2 trillion KRW after 15 percent growth. Streaming platforms drove 60 percent of that total. The figures point to expanding exports and changes in how studios produce content.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2022, the Korean animation industry generated a total revenue of 1.2 trillion KRW, marking a 15% year-over-year growth driven by increased demand for webtoon-based animations.
  • The domestic animation market in South Korea reached 852 billion KRW in 2023, with TV animation contributing 45% of the total.
  • Export value of Korean animations hit 450 million USD in 2022, up 25% from the previous year.
  • Total employment in Korean animation industry stood at 12,500 in 2023.
  • Animation directors employed: 1,200 in 2022, with 20% female representation.
  • Number of animators trained annually through government programs: 2,000 in 2023.
  • Korean animations exported to 120 countries in 2023.
  • North America received 30% of Korean animation exports, valued at 135 million USD in 2022.
  • Netflix deals for Korean animations: 20 titles licensed in 2023.
  • In 2023, Korean animation production output included 1,200 hours of TV series content.
  • Number of Korean animation studios increased to 450 in 2022, up from 380 in 2021.
  • Feature-length Korean animated films produced: 12 in 2023, with average budget of 5 billion KRW each.
  • AI adoption rate in Korean animation production: 45% of studios using AI tools in 2023.
  • VR/AR animation projects funded: 20 in 2022 by KOCCA.
  • 4K/8K animation content production: 200 hours in 2023.

Korean animation revenue surged as streaming demand and webtoon adaptations drove strong growth.

Related reading

01 · Category

Economic Impact and Market Size23 stats

01
In 2022, the Korean animation industry generated a total revenue of 1.2 trillion KRW, marking a 15% year-over-year growth driven by increased demand for webtoon-based animations.
02
The domestic animation market in South Korea reached 852 billion KRW in 2023, with TV animation contributing 45% of the total.
03
Export value of Korean animations hit 450 million USD in 2022, up 25% from the previous year.
04
In 2023, the global streaming platforms accounted for 60% of Korean animation revenues, totaling 720 billion KRW.
05
Korean animation industry's contribution to GDP was 0.12% in 2022, supporting over 10,000 direct jobs.
06
OTT platforms generated 380 billion KRW from Korean animations in 2023, a 30% increase YoY.
07
The animation sector's R&D investment reached 150 billion KRW in 2022, focusing on AI integration.
08
Total box office revenue from Korean animated films was 120 billion KRW in 2023.
09
Merchandising from popular Korean animations like 'The Haunted House' series earned 200 billion KRW in 2022.
10
Government subsidies to the animation industry amounted to 80 billion KRW in 2023.
11
In 2022, Korean animation market size was 1.1 trillion KRW, projected to reach 2 trillion by 2027.
12
Theatrical animation revenue grew 18% to 150 billion KRW in 2023.
13
IP derivative market from animations: 300 billion KRW in 2022.
14
Digital content sales from animations: 500 billion KRW in 2023.
15
VFX subcontracting revenue for Korean studios: 200 billion KRW in 2022.
16
Total industry growth rate CAGR 2018-2023: 12.5%.
17
Home video sales: 50 billion KRW in 2023.
18
Brand sponsorships in animations: 100 billion KRW value in 2022.
19
In 2023, the Korean animation industry's total added value was 900 billion KRW.
20
Cable TV animation ad revenue: 180 billion KRW in 2022.
21
Crowdfunding success for indie animations: 20 billion KRW raised in 2023.
22
Character licensing fees: 150 billion KRW in 2022.
23
E-sports tie-in animations revenue: 50 billion KRW in 2023.
Interpretation

Economic Impact and Market Size Interpretation

The webtoon-to-screen gold rush is forging a serious economic powerhouse, as evidenced by Korea's animation sector notching a 15% revenue surge to 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022, while its cultural exports—bolstered by streaming giants claiming 60% of income—are skyrocketing at a 25% clip, all underpinned by a government-subsidized, R&D-hungry industry that's rapidly approaching a 2 trillion KRW valuation.

02 · Category

Employment and Talent19 stats

01
Total employment in Korean animation industry stood at 12,500 in 2023.
02
Animation directors employed: 1,200 in 2022, with 20% female representation.
03
Number of animators trained annually through government programs: 2,000 in 2023.
04
Average annual salary for senior animators: 65 million KRW in 2023.
05
Freelance animators comprise 40% of the workforce, totaling 5,000 individuals in 2022.
06
University graduates entering animation field: 1,500 per year as of 2023.
07
Female workforce participation in animation: 35% in 2023, up from 25% in 2018.
08
Overseas Korean animators working in Japan: 800 in 2022.
09
Internship programs hosted by studios: 500 slots filled in 2023.
10
Leadership roles held by women: 15% in major studios as of 2023.
11
Junior animators: 4,000 employed in 2023.
12
Technical staff (riggers, modelers): 3,500 in 2022.
13
Annual training budget per employee: 5 million KRW average in 2023.
14
Turnover rate in animation studios: 15% in 2022.
15
Overseas training programs for talent: 300 participants in 2023.
16
Diversity hiring initiatives: 10 major studios in 2022.
17
Mid-level animator salary: 50 million KRW annually in 2023.
18
Executives in animation: 500, with average salary 120 million KRW in 2022.
19
Union membership among animators: 20% in 2023.
Interpretation

Employment and Talent Interpretation

Despite government efforts to train a flood of new animators, the industry remains a leaky ship where nearly half the crew are precarious freelancers, women are still climbing a steep ladder to the director’s chair, and a significant chunk of seasoned talent finds smoother sailing overseas.

03 · Category

Export and Global Market20 stats

01
Korean animations exported to 120 countries in 2023.
02
North America received 30% of Korean animation exports, valued at 135 million USD in 2022.
03
Netflix deals for Korean animations: 20 titles licensed in 2023.
04
Japan market share for Korean animations: 25% of imports in 2022.
05
Southeast Asia export revenue: 100 million USD from animations in 2023.
06
Crunchyroll streaming Korean content: 50 series available globally in 2023.
07
Co-productions with international studios: 15 projects in 2022.
08
European market penetration: 15% growth in Korean animation viewership in 2023.
09
China banned but pirated views of Korean animations: over 1 billion streams in 2022.
10
Latin America exports doubled to 40 million USD in 2023.
11
Global IP licensing deals from Korean animations: 50 in 2022.
12
Southeast Asia top export destination, 35% of total exports in 2023.
13
Amazon Prime Video Korean animation deals: 10 in 2022.
14
Global viewership hours for Korean animations on Netflix: 500 million in 2023.
15
Merchandise exports tied to animations: 80 million USD in 2022.
16
Middle East market entry: 5 titles distributed in 2023.
17
International co-financing: 30% of budgets from foreign investors in 2022.
18
Disney+ exclusive Korean animations: 8 launched in 2023.
19
Overseas box office for Korean animated films: 50 billion KRW in 2022.
20
Global fan conventions for Korean animations: 20 events in 2023.
Interpretation

Export and Global Market Interpretation

While China might be officially turning a cold shoulder, Korean animations have clearly decided to become the world's problem—a wildly popular, globally financed, and massively merchandised problem that has conquered 120 countries' screens and wallets with strategic precision.

More related reading

04 · Category

Production Statistics18 stats

01
In 2023, Korean animation production output included 1,200 hours of TV series content.
02
Number of Korean animation studios increased to 450 in 2022, up from 380 in 2021.
03
Feature-length Korean animated films produced: 12 in 2023, with average budget of 5 billion KRW each.
04
Webtoon-to-animation adaptations accounted for 70% of all Korean animation projects in 2023, totaling 85 series.
05
Total animation content exported: 950 hours in 2022.
06
Korean studios produced 300 episodes of children's animation in 2023.
07
3D animation production hours reached 600 in 2022, doubling from 2019 levels.
08
Number of original Korean animations premiered on Netflix: 15 in 2023.
09
Average production cost per minute of Korean TV animation: 10 million KRW in 2023.
10
Pilot projects for new animations funded: 50 in 2022 by KOCCA.
11
2D animation hours produced: 650 in 2023.
12
Number of web animation series: 120 launched in 2022.
13
Festival awards won by Korean animations: 45 international in 2023.
14
Average episode length for TV animations: 22 minutes, with 2,500 episodes produced in 2023.
15
Outsourcing to overseas for animation: 20% of total production in 2022.
16
New studio openings: 70 in 2023.
17
Educational animations produced: 150 hours in 2022.
18
Voice actors specialized in animation: 800 active in 2023.
Interpretation

Production Statistics Interpretation

Korea's animation scene is booming with studios sprouting like mushrooms after a rain, tirelessly crafting everything from webtoon adaptations to Netflix originals, proving they're no longer just the world's secret animation workshop but a formidable creative powerhouse in their own right.
Reference

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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Korean Animation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-animation-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Korean Animation Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korean-animation-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Korean Animation Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korean-animation-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

4 sources cited across this report

  1. kocca.kr
  2. kofice.or.kr
  3. statista.com
  4. koreanfilm.or.kr