{
  "id": 18070285,
  "title": "Crash landing for K-dramas? Waning output threatens genre’s future",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/crash-landing-for-k-dramas-waning-output-threatens-genres-future",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T05:14:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373220/crash-landing-k-dramas-waning-output-threatens-genres-future"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean industry groups have urged the government to invest in and support the production of Korean television dramas, known as K-dramas, warning that the industry's production base is at risk of collapsing. According to the Korea Drama Production Association, the number of K-dramas produced has dropped by about 30 percent from 141 titles in 2022 to 78 titles in 2023. Three domestic broadcast networks have cut their drama output from 91 titles in 2012 to just 32 in 2023, with some channels even stopping the airing of weekday dramas altogether, the groups representing industry workers including producers, directors, writers, actors, cinematographers, and crew stated.\n\nThe groups attribute the decline in production to rising production costs, which they blame on competition from well-funded global streaming platforms, broadcasters' reduced capacity to invest, and difficulty securing intellectual property rights. They also noted that advertising income alone is no longer sufficient to recoup production costs, leading broadcasters to the rational choice of cutting output. The groups criticized the government's 2027 draft budget, which would see a 4.5 billion won (US$3.35 million) reduction in culture ministry's broadcast-video funding.",
  "summary": "Twelve South Korean industry groups urged the government on Wednesday to invest in and support production of Korean television dramas, known as K-dramas, warning that the country’s production base risked collapse. K-dramas have been hugely popular globally, but the number produced has fallen about 30 per cent from 141 titles in 2022, according to the Korea Drama Production Association. Three…",
  "key_points": [
    "K-drama production dropped 30% from 141 titles in 2022 to 78 in 2023",
    "Three domestic broadcast networks reduced drama output from 91 to 32 titles",
    "Industry groups blame rising costs, global streaming competition, and reduced government funding"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The sharp decline in television production signals a structural crisis where rising costs and streaming competition are pricing traditional broadcasters out of their own domestic content market.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}