South Korea’s film, television, and streaming industry has cemented its status as a vital engine for the national economy. According to an independent study released this month by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the sector generated 24.08 trillion KRW—approximately $17.1 billion—in gross domestic product (GDP) during 2025.
The report, prepared by the research firm Oxford Economics, highlights an industry that does far more than entertain. It currently supports over 291,000 jobs across the country, ranging from production staff to technology and communication workers.
Read more: Neon Buys Na Hong-Jin’s Korean Thriller ‘Hope,’ Starring Michael Fassbender
The economic benefits of South Korean entertainment extend well beyond the production sets. The study found that for every 1 billion KRW (roughly $710,000) generated directly by the industry, an additional 2.1 billion KRW is created in the broader economy. This equates to a GDP multiplier of 3.1.
In terms of employment, the impact is equally significant. Every 100 direct jobs in the screen sector support an additional 240 positions elsewhere, creating a wide-reaching economic benefit. Much of this growth is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for nearly 80% of the industry’s total workforce.
The Rise of Streaming Productivity
While traditional television remains the largest contributor to GDP, the video-on-demand (VOD) segment is the industry’s most efficient engine. The report found that workers in the VOD sector contribute significantly more to the GDP per capita than the national average, averaging about $297,000 per person.
This productivity underscores why platforms are pivoting toward digital distribution. As audience habits shift, VOD is projected to grow by over 7% annually through 2028. Rep. Lim O-Kyeong, a member of the National Assembly and a key policymaker in the country’s content and sports sector, views this data as a turning point.
Read more: HYBE, SM, JYP, and YG Join Forces to Launch K-Pop Festival “Fanomenon”
“Korea’s video content industry has evolved beyond the global spread of Hallyu to become a key driver of the national economy,” Rep. Lim O-Kyeong said. “Evidence-based analysis of the sector’s impact is a critical reference for future policy formulation and regulatory improvement.”
Tourism and Global Reach
The “Korean Wave” continues to pay dividends in tourism. Nearly 40% of international visitors cited Korean entertainment content as their primary motivation for traveling to the country. A specific case study of the series When Life Gives You Tangerines showed a nearly 60% increase in foreign visitors to the featured Jeju Haenyeo Museum, highlighting the direct link between screen success and local economic growth.
The export numbers back up this popularity. Exports of film and television content reached 1.8 trillion KRW in 2024, nearly doubling since 2019. This performance now outpaces major industrial exports like beverages and railway equipment.
Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA, emphasized how this success story is being observed worldwide. “South Korea’s audiovisual industry has become one of the most influential in the world,” Rivkin said. “MPA member studios are proud to partner with Korean creators to bring these stories to screens worldwide.”
Mila Venugopalan, MPA Asia-Pacific President and Managing Director, noted that the model is now a global blueprint. “Wherever we travel, policymakers ask how Korea did it,” Venugopalan said. “This report shows that Korea’s success is grounded in strong creative talent, evidence-based policy, and international collaboration.”
