Twelve South Korean film and television organisations called for a five-year drama support plan worth 1 trillion won at a November 4 press conference in Seoul. The groups represent producers, writers, directors, performers and crew. Tuoi Tre, citing Chosun, reported that they asked the government and parliament to treat recovery of domestic drama production as a national priority.
Fewer productions and broadcast slots
The domestic drama producers’ association recorded 141 productions in 2022 and about 99 two years later. The longer-term broadcast figures also fell. KBS, MBC and SBS scheduled 91 dramas in 2012 and 32 in 2023, and some channels dropped weekday slots.
Industry representatives linked the decline to rising costs alongside the expansion of global streaming services and weaker advertising revenue at broadcasters. Association chairman Song Byung Joon warned about jobs and production capacity. Writer Park Hae Young described financing difficulties at domestic companies and cited writers moving toward webcomics or games.
How the proposed funding would work
The plan envisages 200 billion won a year in public support. The groups propose covering half the production costs of around 40 low- and mid-budget dramas per year, each with an illustrative budget of about 10 billion won. Broadcasters and distributors would contribute the balance.
The organisations also called for an annual production target, a coordinated response involving the culture ministry, communications authorities and parliament, and revenue-sharing arrangements for intellectual property with global platforms. The figures describe the industry’s proposal for consideration by policymakers.