CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is the world's largest technology exhibition held annually in January in Las Vegas, USA, serving as a stage where global Big Tech companies and innovative startups showcase the latest technology trends. In 2026, cutting-edge technologies such as AI, XR (Extended Reality), and immersive media are expected to mark the inaugural year of full-scale convergence with the entertainment industry.

The Korean Wave (K-Wave) is rapidly expanding from K-POP, K-Drama, and K-Movies to digital content domains including K-Games, K-Webtoon, and K-Virtual Idols. It now requires evolution beyond simple content export toward a 'tech-converged global platform.'

Against this backdrop, we have planned this forum to intensively introduce the capabilities of Korea's EnterTech industry on the global stage during CES 2026 and establish a foundation for substantive collaboration with the U.S. tech ecosystem.

About

'Next K-Wave EnterTech Forum @ CES 2026' is a global forum illuminating the present and future of Korean Entertainment Technology (EnterTech) on CES, the world's largest innovation stage. Building on the traditional strengths of K-Content, this event will deeply discuss the changing landscape of the new entertainment industry combining next-generation digital technologies including AI, XR, and immersive media.

This forum will serve as a venue for sharing visions and strategies for K-Content to leap forward as the center of global technological innovation beyond cultural content. It will explore how Korea is leading the global entertainment tech ecosystem across various domains including fandom economy, virtual production, ultra-realistic performances, and AI creative tools, while presenting sustainable growth models through industry convergence.

The event also brings together global technology and media leaders from Korea, the United States, and beyond to discuss new opportunities and challenges arising from the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Participants will explore together how K-Content can evolve into the 'Next Wave' within global screens, platforms, and fandom ecosystems.

'Next K-Wave EnterTech Forum @ CES 2026' aims to serve as a hub facilitating collaboration among industry, government, and academia, as well as international networking, to establish the Korean Wave as a future-oriented global business platform driving technological innovation and industry convergence beyond a mere cultural trend.

Objectives

• K-EnterTech Global Branding: Imprint Korea's entertainment tech industry's innovation and technological competitiveness on the global market through CES 2026, providing new value and experiences of K-Content to media and on-site audiences.
• Next Hallyu Initiative Expansion: Transform K-Content from consumption-centered to building cultural partnership relationships with countries worldwide, evolving into a sustainable Korean Wave ecosystem through the combination of cutting-edge technology and creativity. Establish a new paradigm of Korean Wave that creates and enjoys together while spreading innovative K-Content strategies based on AI, XR, and interactive technology globally.
• AI·XR·Immersive Technology Convergence Strategy Discussion: Explore strategies and application cases for creating realistic entertainment and user experience-centered new services by combining AI, XR, and immersive technologies leading the next-generation media ecosystem with K-Content.
• Global Big Tech Partnership Building: Form collaborative networks with leading XR·AI companies including Meta, Apple, NVIDIA, Sphere Entertainment, and SM Entertainment to establish partnerships for joint technology development and market entry.
• Global EnterTech Ecosystem Connection: Build a practical ecosystem for investment, collaboration, and market validation through business matching opportunities between U.S.-centered global EnterTech including Silicon Valley VCs, Hollywood studios, and Las Vegas entertainment companies and Korea's K-EnterTech industry.
• K-Nevada Bridge Program Linkage and On-site Pitching: Based on continuous cooperation systems with Nevada (public-private linkage programs), support major startups' U.S. market entry and enable companies to directly introduce technologies and services through on-site pitching with global partners at CES, intensively appealing new experience economy and Physical AI and other innovative technologies.

Detailed

'Next K-Wave EnterTech Forum @ CES 2026' aims to globally expand Korea's Entertainment Technology (EnterTech) sector and strengthen industrial cooperation. Using CES as a global business hub, the following detailed objectives will be pursued:

• Arrange business meetings between Korean EnterTech companies and global media/tech companies and expand cooperative networking
• Sign MOUs with global investors, streaming platforms, and XR·AI companies and discover joint projects
• Discover convergence cases of K-Content and immersive technologies (AI·XR·Virtual Production) and promote global publicity through domestic and international media
• Operate CES-linked business matching and promotional sessions supporting startups and SMEs' global market entry

Objectives

The forum focuses not only on industrial exchange but also on deepening academic and research discourse on the development direction and social impact of entertainment technology:

• Share research results on global entertainment technology trends and industry changes confirmed at CES
• Publish a White Paper systematically organizing K-EnterTech industry development strategies and technology convergence models
• Derive policy and industrial implications through roundtables and panel discussions involving academic and industry experts
• Share international joint research and innovation cases for establishing a sustainable K-Content ecosystem

Overview

Schedule

• The Next Decade of K-Content: Finding Answers in Entertainment Tech
• Legacy TV, policy leaders, global tech companies, and innovative startups come together to present a new K-content ecosystem enabled by AI, XR, cloud, and virtual production.
• A premier conference where you can experience K-EnterTech's innovation and global expansion strategy all at once, including bridge programs with global production and investment hubs like Nevada, US.
  

5. Key Speakers and Panelists

5.1 Keynote Speakers

Prof. Samseog Ko (Distinguished Professor, AI Convergence College, Dongguk University)

Former Standing Commissioner, Korea Communications Commission; Member, Presidential AI National Committee. Author of 'Next Hallyu' . Expert in media, content, entertainment tech, Korean Wave policy, and EnterTech industry strategy

Del Parks

President of Sinclair, TV Tech and Media Tech Executive

5.2 Presenters

• June Park, CEO, NEW ID
• Hyunjin Shin, CEO, Hudson AI
• Kisun Song, CEO, Maze

5.3 Panelists (Roundtable)

• Kunhee Park, Media Industry expert
• Aundrea Frahm, Director, UNLV Dreamscape Center
• Giwoong Yun, Dean, Reynolds School, University of Nevada
• Osang Kweon, CEO, Digital Future Research Institute

Contact Information

Organizer: K-EnterTech Hub, Jung Han

Phone: +1 812 837 7424

Email: existen75@kentertechhub.com

Website: www.kentertechhub.com