Busan is good

Busan Content Market Marks 20 Years of History Written Together with the World—and the Journey Continues

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that the 20th Busan Content Market (BCM 2026) will be held for three days, from June 10 to June 12, at Hall 1 of Exhibition Center 1 at BEXCO.

The 20th Busan Content Market marks a significant milestone since its launch in 2007. This year’s event will bring together approximately 2,300 buyers and sellers from 700 companies across 55 countries, with a transaction target of USD 230 million.

Under the theme “Where K-Content Meets the World – Busan,” BCM 2026 is expected to reaffirm its status as Asia’s largest content trading platform. Over the past two decades, Busan Content Market has served as a key gateway for the global expansion of K-content.

This year’s event offers a richer and more diverse program than ever before, covering content trading, investment attraction, discussions on global trends, and special events commemorating the market’s 20th anniversary.

In the Market sector, one of the most notable developments is the official participation of the China Pavilion organized by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of China. As the first Chinese government-led event to officially participate in the Korean content market, it is regarded as a meaningful indicator of the potential re-entry of K-content into the Chinese market. Country pavilions from Mongolia and Romania, as well as major global OTT buyers including Disney+, iQIYI, and Viu, will also participate, making this the largest market in BCM history.

In the Investment Attraction sector, one-on-one business matching sessions will be held between 15 venture capital firms and content production companies, along with a global pitching event featuring 20 domestic and international production companies. During the investment agreement ceremony, five agreements totaling KRW 16.4 billion are expected to be signed, including an international co-production project for the Philippine remake of the film Sword: The Sword of Godumakhan and the drama Itaewon Class.

In the Conference sector, the World AiCon Forum (WAiCon) will spotlight emerging trends in content production driven by new technologies such as generative AI and real-time video editing. Global AI companies and Korean experts will participate in discussions on practical, industry-focused topics.

In particular, BCM 2026 celebrates the 20th anniversary of Busan Content Market with an expanded lineup of commemorative programs from the opening ceremony through the special events.

The opening ceremony will feature a K-POP performance by Unitree, China’s leading humanoid robotics company, alongside the BCM 2036 Vision Declaration Ceremony and the BCM 20th Anniversary Special Awards, highlighting the significance of the milestone year.

At CANNESERIES×BUSAN, seven productions selected for this year’s Cannes International Series Festival—four international and three Korean titles—will be screened. The program also includes a Pink Carpet event and opportunities for audiences to meet leading cast members. Notably, the Korean drama The Bead of God (directed by Jung Dae-yoon and starring Lee Sung-min, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Claudia Kim) was officially invited to the non-competition section of CANNESERIES and, following its world premiere screening in Cannes, will be presented again to audiences in Busan.

In addition, the BCM OTT Series Awards (BOSA) and the second Asia Short-Form Drama Awards (ASDA) will be held, highlighting the rapidly growing Asian short-form drama industry and connecting award-winning works with exhibition, distribution, and investment opportunities.

Park Heong-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “Over the past 20 years, Busan Content Market has grown into Asia’s leading content trading platform, driving the global expansion of K-content. Going forward, it will continue to serve as a platform for innovation where creation, investment, distribution, and platforms converge, opening a dynamic new decade for the global K-content industry.”