The Taiwan Creative Content Fest forum recently delved deep into the journey of Asian stories through the modern value chain, from original IP to financing to global distribution. The discussion panel featured Mr. Romance CEO Sean Saeyoon Shim and Yungsun Soh, senior VP and MD of A+E Global Media, Korea, both prominent figures in the international entertainment industry. Moderated by DaMou Entertainment CEO Jayde Lin, the panel explored the challenges and opportunities in bringing Asian stories to a global audience.
Shim highlighted Korea’s webtoon ecosystem as a rich source of globally adaptable IP, noting that webtoons provide producers with a solid foundation to gauge audience demand. He emphasized the importance of creating stories with emotional depth and universal appeal to resonate with international audiences. Soh added that while there is growing global interest in Asian content, navigating the path from IP to screen has become increasingly complex due to streaming competition and rising production costs. She stressed the importance of partnering with like-minded collaborators to bring creative visions to life.
In terms of investment, Shim shared his approach of seeking informal audience feedback before securing financing, emphasizing the need for strong marketing strategies to make a show stand out on global platforms. The success of Disney+ hit “Moving,” which took seven years to develop its debut season, exemplifies the value of long-term IP development. Looking ahead, Shim sees international co-production and B2C development as key strategies for markets with shrinking domestic demand, including innovative blockchain mechanisms that engage audiences as micro-investors.
Despite the challenges of working within government-backed frameworks, Shim and Soh expressed optimism about the future of pan-Asian partnerships, with Taiwan playing a significant role in pushing regional IP onto the global stage. The panelists highlighted the potential for collaboration and innovation to elevate Asian storytelling to new heights in the global market.
Overall, the forum shed light on the evolving landscape of Asian content creation and distribution, emphasizing the importance of creativity, strategic partnerships, and audience engagement in bringing compelling stories to a worldwide audience.
