Series Mania Forum Names Korea As Inaugural Country of Honor
Series Mania Forum has designated the Republic of Korea as the inaugural Country of Honor, bringing a high-profile delegation of Korean entertainment companies to the industry event taking place from March 24 to 26 in Lille, France.
The country has had a strong presence at the event in recent years. The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the government organization that coordinates the promotion of Korea’s content sector, will lead a delegation of eight companies to the forum: Channel A Corporation, CJ ENM, EO Content Group, KBS Media, MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corp.), SLL Joongang, Studio S and Whynot Media.
Series Mania founder and CEO Laurence Herszberg announced the Country of Honor designation on Tuesday, recognizing Korea’s contributions to global content development. The forum takes place during the wider Series Mania Festival, which runs from March 20 to 27.
The initiative received support from the French National Center for Film and the Moving Image (CNC) and its president Gaëtan Bruel. KOCCA and CNC previously signed a memorandum of understanding during Series Mania 2024 committing to promoting exchanges between France and Korea and strengthening the bilateral growth of the content industry.
Programming for the Korean focus includes a Coming Next from Korea session, Korean speakers participating in conference panels, a networking reception and additional events.
The appointment coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, which date back to the 1886 Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation. The honor is a reward for France’s recognition last year at BroadCast Worldwide, Asia’s largest content marketing event, during its 25th edition in Seoul.
The Korean content market reached $43.1 billion in 2024, up 5.7% from $40.8 billion in 2023, maintaining its position as the eighth largest content market in the world. Viewership of Korean content in France has increased by more than 200% year-on-year on Netflix, while also increasing across traditional French broadcast channels.
“This will be the first time we highlight a country at our event, and we are thrilled that it is Korea, whose excellence and creativity in film and audiovisual production are widely recognized,” said Herszberg. “This celebration is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea. Both countries have a rich history and culture, united by mutual fascination and a shared commitment to strengthening ties in an increasingly globalized world.”
Moonju Kim, general manager of KOCCA France, said the agency has contributed to the global reach of Korean stories through series such as “Squid Game” and “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.”
“We hope that Series Mania, as one of the world’s leading platforms for series content, will further deepen mutual understanding and promote lasting cooperation, including co-production and investment, between Korea and France,” Kim said.
Based in Lille since 2018, Series Mania has established itself as a leading television series event, attracting more than 108,000 spectators to the festival and 5,000 professionals from more than 75 countries to the forum, with 84 exhibitors and 25 international delegations.
