Distinguished Prof. Ko Proposes "Korea-US EnterTech Alliance" at Next K-Wave EnterTech Forum @ CES 2026

— Presents Concrete Collaboration Projects: Joint Virtual Idol Production, The Sphere K-Pop Concerts, K-Content Services in Autonomous Vehicles

"Beyond One-Way Export to Cultural Partnership"... Presidential AI Strategy Council Member Advocates K-Content Coevolution Strategy in 'Next K-Wave Initiative' Keynote

📍 Las Vegas, USA  |  📅 January 7, 2026  |  ✍️ K-EnterTech Hub

"We need to establish an EnterTech Alliance where OTT platforms, AI companies, content creators, and startups from both Korea and the United States participate together."

Prof. Samseog Ko, Distinguished Professor at Dongguk University and member of the Presidential Committee on Artificial Intelligence, officially proposed the creation of a 'Korea-US EnterTech Alliance' at CES 2026. Speaking at the 'Next K-Wave EnterTech Forum @ CES 2026' held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on January 7, Prof. Ko delivered a 30-minute keynote address on the 'Next K-Wave Initiative,' presenting a vision for sustainable K-Content development and global coevolution in the AI era.

In his keynote, Prof. Ko emphasized that K-Content must move beyond a simple export-driven strategy to build 'cultural partnership' relationships with the United States, Southeast Asia, and beyond. He proposed specific Korea-US collaboration projects including joint production of multinational virtual idols using generative AI, K-Pop concerts at The Sphere in Las Vegas, and K-Content experience services in autonomous vehicles—drawing enthusiastic response from attendees.

1. Three Critical Questions for the Content Industry in the AI Era

Prof. Ko opened his keynote by referencing his book 'Next Hallyu: The Future of Korean Wave Created by the Convergence of Entertainment and Technology,' published in June 2025, and posed three critical questions facing the content industry in the AI era.

🎯 Three Core Challenges for the Next Hallyu

• Sustainability of K-Content: How can the Korean Wave continue to develop sustainably?

• Coevolution Strategy: How can we collaborate and grow together with Southeast Asia, the US, and beyond?

• EnterTech-Based Innovation: How should we integrate content and AI in the AI era?

"Today's keynote will focus on how Korea and the United States can collaborate on these themes, and how both nations can develop together in the content industry during the AI era," Prof. Ko stated, setting the direction for his address.

2. The Remarkable Rise of K-Content: "Korea Itself Has Become Content"

Prof. Ko emphasized that the Korean Wave, which began in 1997 when Korean dramas first aired on China's CCTV, has evolved over 28 years into a global cultural phenomenon.

The evolution of K-Content: From China to Japan, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the world

Korea achieved 'EGOT' status by winning all four major US entertainment awards

He spotlighted the global success of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' produced by Sony Pictures and distributed by Netflix. With over 400 million cumulative views, the series became Netflix's all-time most-watched title, proving K-Content's formidable global appeal.

Luminate Report: Korea produced 60 local originals on major streaming services (2024)

Prof. Ko cited Luminate's 'Global Entertainment Trends' report (2025), presented at MIPCOM in France, to illustrate Korea's standing. In 2024, Korean-produced local originals on major streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ totaled 60 titles—far surpassing second-place Japan (35) and third-place Brazil (22).

Hallyu's expanding influence: K-Food, K-Beauty, K-Fashion beyond K-Content

"Beyond K-Content, Korean culture as a whole—K-Food, K-Beauty, K-Fashion—has captured global attention," he noted. "Following the 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' phenomenon, the question 'What will the next stage of K-Content look like?' is being asked around the world."

3. The Lee Jae-myung Administration's 'AI Powerhouse' Vision

As a member of the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy, Prof. Ko unveiled key elements of Korea's 'AI Action Plan' for the first time at CES.

Korea's AI Action Plan: Targeting Global AI Top 3 (G3) status

🇰🇷 Three Pillars of Korea's AI Powerhouse Vision

• Building an AI Innovation Ecosystem: Securing computing resources and constructing an AI superhighway

• National AI-Based Transformation: Realizing an AI-powered cultural powerhouse and industrial AI transformation

• Contributing to Global AI Society: Establishing an AI-based society and global AI initiatives

"Korea aims to become an 'AI-Powered Cultural Powerhouse' by expanding the realms of cultural creation, enjoyment, and exchange through AI," he explained. "We will build a human-centered creative ecosystem, not a technology-centered one, driving sustainable growth and global expansion of K-Culture."

AI-based creative ecosystem activation and simultaneous global expansion of K-Content and K-AI

4. "The History of Content Is the History of Technology" — CES 2026 EnterTech Trends

Prof. Ko emphasized that "the history of content is the history of technology," and provided an in-depth analysis of EnterTech trends observed at CES 2026.

"The history of content is the history of technology!"

"CES is no longer just a technology expo focused on TVs, semiconductors, and home appliances," he observed. "CES 2026 marks a turning point where video content has become both the product of technological innovation and a core driver of technological advancement."

CES 2026 C Space: A strategic venue placing media, content, and marketing at the forefront

CES 2026 EnterTech key trends: Agentic AI, Spatial Computing (XR), Connected Cars, Immersive Entertainment

Prof. Ko identified key CES 2026 trends including: individual creators producing cinema-quality content using generative AI; Agentic AI that self-optimizes from planning to editing and distribution; Spatial Computing transforming living rooms into theaters; and immersive entertainment experiences.

5. Advocating for Coevolution: "Beyond One-Way Export to Cultural Partnership"

Prof. Ko strongly advocated for a 'Coevolution' strategy as essential for K-Content's sustainable development.

"We cannot deny that K-Content has grown through one-way market entry and export-focused strategies," he acknowledged. "But problems are emerging—one-way delivery, repetitive formats, and fandom fatigue."

He revealed that during CES 2026, CEOs of Korea's three major terrestrial broadcasters visited together to discuss specific collaboration projects with the Nevada state government and big tech companies. "Discussions are underway for K-Culture infrastructure development and event hosting in the Las Vegas area," Prof. Ko explained. "This represents an advanced Korea-US government and industry collaboration model that goes beyond FAST platform cooperation or OTT content co-investment."

6. "Let's Build a Korea-US EnterTech Alliance" — Concrete Collaboration Projects Proposed

As the highlight of his keynote, Prof. Ko proposed specific projects for Korea-US content industry collaboration.

🤝 Key Collaboration Projects for Korea-US EnterTech Alliance

• Joint Multinational Virtual Idol Production: Developing global virtual human artists using generative AI

• Global Fan Concerts: K-Pop concerts at The Sphere with real-time interaction via XR headsets and AR glasses

• K-Immersive Mobility Experience: Personalized K-Drama, K-Pop, and Webtoon content in autonomous and connected vehicles

• K-Content IP × Advanced Technology Convergence: Integrating K-Content with digital twin, XR, and other technologies

"To achieve this, we need to establish an EnterTech Alliance where OTT and AI platform operators, content creators, and startups from both Korea and the United States participate and collaborate together," Prof. Ko emphasized.

7. "Let's Create Together, Enjoy Together" — Proposing a New Horizon for the Next Hallyu

"EnterTech is not a passing trend," Prof. Ko declared as he concluded his keynote. "EnterTech is the symbolic term for a paradigm shift transforming the entire content industry—from production and creation methods to final consumption. Let us, the media, content, and AI professionals and creators of Korea and the United States, pioneer this new territory together."

Prof. Ko concluded his 30-minute keynote with the words, "I hope today's gathering at CES 2026 will be the first step in Korea-US EnterTech collaboration. Let's go together to the new future." The audience responded with a standing ovation.

This keynote holds significant meaning as it directly presented K-Content's future vision and Korea-US collaboration strategy at the world's largest technology expo. The specific projects proposed by Prof. Ko—joint virtual idol production, The Sphere K-Pop concerts, and autonomous vehicle K-Content services—are regarded as providing a concrete roadmap for Korea-US EnterTech cooperation.

At a time when K-Content has solidified its position in the global market through 'Squid Game' and 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' Prof. Ko's proposals for 'Coevolution' and an 'EnterTech Alliance' have clearly charted the direction for the Next Hallyu. The shift from one-way export to bilateral collaboration, from content sales to cultural partnership—this is the proposition Prof. Samseog Ko presented at CES 2026.

■ Event Overview: Next K-Wave EnterTech Forum @ CES 2026

The forum was hosted by K-EnterTech Hub, 3stripe Venture Studio, and DRI, with sponsorship from Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development, Kocowa, KSEA Nevada Chapter, Mega Exhibit, SBS, and Sinclair. As a global forum spotlighting the present and future of Korean entertainment technology at CES, the world's largest innovation stage, it facilitated in-depth discussions on convergence strategies between next-generation digital technologies—AI, XR, and immersive media—and K-Content.

In addition to Prof. Ko's keynote, the forum featured a keynote by Del Parks, CTO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, on 'Cloud, AI, K-Content, and the Future of Broadcasting,' a FAST platform strategy presentation by Park Jun-kyung, CEO of NEW ID, and startup pitches from K-EnterTech companies including Hudson AI and Maze.

Tags: #CES2026 #NextHallyu #KContent #EnterTech #KoSamseog #AIPowerhouse #Hallyu4.0 #KWave #LasVegas #Coevolution #EnterTechAlliance