Lee sees growth potential in Korean dramas in global market

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday emphasized the importance of cultural investment beyond the K-pop industry, highlighting Korean dramas as a new growth engine and a pathway to enhancing South Korea’s global soft power.

He made the remarks during a meeting at the presidential office with Kim Won-suk, director of the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” along with other prominent figures from the cultural and arts sectors.

Lee shared that he cried while binge-watching the 16-part series, saying he was deeply moved by the story and impressed by its global appeal driven by its delicate and nuanced expression.

The drama, praised for its emotional depth and storytelling, follows a couple’s enduring hardships across generations on the southern island of Jeju, set against the backdrop of a patriarchal society.

“I wasn’t sure how much potential the Korean culture industry had,” Lee said. “But after watching the drama, I thought it could serve as a turning point in developing the sector into a global industry.”

Witnessing the success of such a uniquely Korean story in the global market, Lee said he recognized the broader potential of the culture industry beyond the already successful K-pop sector.

“It made me realize that Korea’s cultural power isn’t limited to music like K-pop. There are new areas where we can truly shine,” he said.

Lee said South Korea could strengthen its global influence by investing in culture and nurturing young talent to grow creative industries and support their entry into international markets.

Among the invited guests were Hue Park, writer of the original Korean musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” which won six awards — including Best Musical — at this year’s Tony Awards; world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo; ballerino Park Youn-jae; and Heo Ga-young, director of the short film “First Summer,” which won first prize in the La Cinef section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.