Series Mania Forum has announced the Republic of Korea as its first-ever Country of Honour, marking a significant milestone in the event’s history and underscoring Korea’s growing influence in the global series landscape.
Celebrating more than a decade of its role as a key meeting point for international content professionals, Series Mania Forum will spotlight South Korea at its 2026 edition, taking place from March 24 to 26 in Lille, Hauts-de-France. The initiative reflects Korea’s long-standing impact on global audiovisual production and its increasing presence across international markets.
As part of the Country of Honour programme, KOCCA (Korea Creative Content Agency) will attend the forum alongside eight major Korean companies: Channel A Corporation, CJ ENM, EO Content Group, KBS Media, MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corp.), SLL Joongang, Studio S and WHYNOT MEDIA. Together, they will represent a broad cross-section of Korea’s television and content industry, from public broadcasters to leading studios and production groups.
The initiative has been made possible with the support of the CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée) and follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between KOCCA and the CNC at Series Mania 2024, aimed at strengthening cooperation and exchanges between France and Korea’s content industries.
Korea’s presence will be integrated into the core of the Forum programme, including a “Coming Next from Korea” showcase, conference panels featuring Korean industry figures, and dedicated networking events. The programme is designed to highlight current trends, creative approaches and international opportunities within the Korean audiovisual sector.
The timing of the announcement also aligns with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, adding a symbolic dimension to the collaboration. It follows a year of reciprocal industry recognition, after France was honoured at Seoul-based content market BCWW in 2025.
According to industry estimates, the Korean content market reached USD 43.1 billion in 2024, maintaining its position among the world’s leading content-producing countries. Demand for Korean series continues to grow internationally, including in France, where viewing of Korean titles on streaming platforms has increased significantly in recent years.
The full programme for the 2026 Series Mania Forum will be unveiled on February 12.
