[Press Release] CJ ENM Showcases the Global Success Strategy of K-Variety Shows at KIS

CJ ENM participated in the Korea International Streaming Festival (KISF), sharing its vision for the global expansion of K-variety and insights into the growing international appeal of Korean unscripted content.

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As part of the festival, CJ ENM hosted a special session titled "The Global Success Strategy of K-Variety Shows", moderated by Sehee Jang, Head of Business Development & Global Awards at CJ ENM. The panel brought together leading voices from the K-variety industry, including Sun-young Lee, Chief Producer of Mnet's Couple Palace, Won-woong Lee, Chief Producer of tvN's I Am Boxer, and Professor Jung-Hwan Kim of Korea University's School of Media and Communication.

The discussion explored how K-variety has evolved from a domestic entertainment genre into a globally recognized content category, highlighting the strengths of Korean unscripted storytelling, expanding opportunities for format exports and adaptations, and strategies to sustain its momentum in an increasingly competitive global market.

During the session, the creators shared behind-the-scenes stories on the development of Couple Palace and I Am Boxer, both of which were submitted for consideration in the 2026 International Emmy® Awards competition.

The panel also highlighted the international achievements of the two programs. Couple Palace became the first Korean entertainment program to win the Gold Award in the Light Entertainment category at the 2025 Venice TV Awards and has since secured remake option agreements in 10 European countries. Meanwhile, I Am Boxer gained significant global attention through its international distribution on Disney+, reflecting the rising demand for Korean unscripted content worldwide.

Professor Kim noted that Korea has evolved over the past decade from a content-exporting nation into a leading creator of global entertainment formats, underscoring the growing influence of Korean creativity on the international media landscape.

"With the growing global demand for Korean unscripted content, K-variety is no longer simply a successful local genre but a globally competitive format category", said Sehee Jang. "By combining creative storytelling with strategic partnerships and format expertise, CJ ENM will continue to expand the global footprint of K-variety and help shape the next chapter of the Korean Wave".