K-EnterTech Hub Industry Report 2026 — K-content growth moves from production to distribution and touring
Korea's 2025 content revenue (161.48tn won) and exports (US$14.9bn) both set records, while broadcast advertising fell 12.3% to 2.01tn won and broadcast revenue declined a third year. Growth came from music, touring and offshore distribution; generative AI landed first as a cost lever.
Content exports at a record US$14.9 billion · broadcast advertising down 12.3% to 2.01 trillion won · 32.1% generative AI adoption among content firms
Summary
Korea's content industry posted record 2025 revenue of 161.48 trillion won and record exports of US$14.906 billion. Over the same period broadcast advertising revenue fell 12.3% to 2.01 trillion won and broadcast industry revenue declined for a third consecutive year. Growth came from music, live events and offshore distribution; contraction came from domestic broadcast advertising and production commissions. Generative AI established itself first as a cost-reduction tool.
Description
A 46-page English report organising verified facts and figures from Korean media and entertainment between the second half of 2025 and early September 2026 along four axes: AI and entertainment technology, the K-pop business, streaming and broadcasting, and global expansion and exports.
It covers a period in which indicators within the same industry moved in opposite directions. Content exports and concert revenue set records while broadcast industry revenue fell for a third straight year and broadcast advertising dropped 12.3%. HYBE's Q2 2026 concert revenue rose 243.3%, and commissions for Korean drama from global streaming services fell 43% in two years. Album units declined for a second consecutive year while album export value set a record.
Production-side AI adoption and the rules now governing it are treated together: 32.1% adoption among content firms, CJ ENM's 〈Apartment〉 shot for about 500 million won across four days, three minutes of SBS's 〈Kim Bujang〉 generated entirely with AI, alongside the labelling duty under the AI Framework Act in force from January 2026, the broadcasters-versus-Naver copyright case, and the synthetic performer clause in the 2026 SAG-AFTRA agreement as a comparison.
The report carries 12 colour charts and 17 tables. Every figure in the body names its institution and reporting date. Items where outlets differ, and items that could not be verified, are set out separately in the appendix data note, along with the currency conversion basis.
Contents
- Executive summary — ten findings from H2 2025 through H1 2026
- Exports and touring at records, broadcast advertising and commissions in retreat
- Generative AI: from cost reduction to rulemaking
- K-pop revenue moves from recorded music to touring and fandom subscriptions
- Streaming reorders, terrestrial losses harden
- Global distribution moves from finished-product exports to local production and equity
- What to verify from H2 2026 into 2027
- Appendix — data notes, unverified items, sources
Product information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Length | 46 pages |
| Format | Digital PDF (Word source available on request) |
| Coverage | Second half of 2025 to early September 2026 |
| Published | September 2026 |
| Publisher | K-EnterTech Hub Co., Ltd. |
| Exhibits | 12 colour charts, 17 tables |
| Price | (to be set) |
Who it is for
Strategy and programming teams at broadcasters and production companies; business planning at streaming services; global business units at entertainment companies; media and entertainment analysts and investment professionals; content policy officials and agencies; advertising and marketing planners; media researchers and graduate programmes.
Licence
Internal reading and citation within the purchasing organisation are permitted. External distribution, resale and full reproduction require prior agreement. Cite as K-EnterTech Hub Industry Report 2026.