The Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairman Han Sang-joon) has released a comprehensive study outlining strategies to strengthen Korean cinema's presence in the North American market through enhanced co-production frameworks. The research, titled "Strategies for Korean Film's North American Market Entry and Co-Production Activation," identifies a fundamental shift in how Korean films can leverage international partnerships, moving from traditional distribution models to IP-driven creative collaborations.

The study emphasizes the need for institutional frameworks that enhance Korea's negotiating power by capitalizing on its strengths in intellectual property and creative production capabilities. It also highlights the importance of building practical infrastructure to bridge systemic differences between Korean and North American production environments while accelerating Korean filmmakers' business execution capabilities.

The research examines recent Korean-North American projects including King of Kings, Bugonia, The Hole, and Pig Village, providing detailed analysis of emerging collaboration patterns. Through consultations with industry professionals in both markets, the study identifies a significant evolution in partnership dynamics: Korean IP and creators are increasingly positioned as core project drivers, combining with North American capital and production systems rather than simply seeking distribution deals.

This transformation reflects K-content's elevated global status and suggests that industry infrastructure must now focus on converting Korean planning and production expertise into viable global business ventures.

KOFIC gathered insights from diverse industry specialists including global production companies, independent producers, policy finance institutions, and technical/production service providers. This comprehensive consultation process enabled sector-specific assessments of Korean cinema's global competitiveness and generated targeted policy initiatives.

Key recommendations include:

"The North American market represents a critical growth opportunity for Korean cinema," said KOFIC Chairman Han Sang-joon. "A paradigm shift in our North American entry policies must be accompanied by implementation frameworks centered on industry needs. We expect this research to serve as essential groundwork for policies advancing Korean film's North American presence and co-production activation."

KOFIC continues to lead Korean cinema's global expansion through various initiatives including export support and international network development. This year marks the introduction of the "International Film Co-Production Pilot Program" to strengthen production foundations, alongside a new "International Co-Production Quota" within the mid-budget Korean film production support program to actively back global projects.

The complete study, "Strategies for Korean Film's North American Market Entry and Co-Production Activation," is available on the KOFIC website (www.kofic.or.kr/kofic).