[Busan Ilbo] This Year's Busan Contents Market Achieves Highest Performance Ever

▶ Transaction volume totals $306.7 million

▶  Solidifies its position as a global market

Scene of the 2026 Busan Contents Market. Provided by BCM

Scene of the 2026 Busan Contents Market conference. Provided by BCM

Scene of the 2026 Busan Contents Market pink carpet. Provided by BCM

The 20th Busan Contents Market (BCM 2026), which closed on the 12th, recorded a transaction volume of 306.7 million dollars (approximately 465.9 billion KRW), breaking its all-time high record.

The Busan Contents Market Organizing Committee announced on the 24th through the BCM settlement data that "this year's transaction performance has achieved a monumental outcome." It surged by 81.3 million dollars, or about 36%, compared to the previous year's transaction volume (225.4 million dollars), and once again broke its all-time record in two years since first surpassing 200 million dollars in 2024.

In particular, this year, BCM proved that it has firmly established itself as a global business market focused on 'qualitative growth' by the fact that it renewed its all-time transaction record despite difficult circumstances such as a shortage of accommodations due to overlapping schedules with the BTS Busan concert and an increase in aviation fuel surcharges.

Looking at the transaction performance in detail, it recorded 51.45 million dollars (about 78.1 billion KRW) in contracts and 255.25 million dollars (about 387.7 billion KRW) in consultations, being evaluated as a substantial market.

One of the biggest achievements of this year's BCM is the official participation of the 'China Joint Pavilion' hosted by the State Council Information Office of China and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) for the first time since the Han Hallyeong (Korean Wave ban). Major Chinese broadcasters and technology companies participated in large numbers, opening a new channel for Korea-China media exchanges. In addition, a diversified media hub network was built with new countries such as Romania and Qatar participating, and a Mongolian broadcaster joint pavilion setting up a booth. Regional companies participating in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Support Pavilion also achieved a transaction performance of 6.22 million dollars, providing a practical global market path for small and medium-sized content companies.

The 'BCM Funding' and 'Investment Agreement Ceremony' designed to draw organic collaboration between content production companies and domestic and foreign investment companies also generated a performance that more than doubled compared to last year (5 cases, 7.2 billion KRW). At the investment agreement ceremony held on the opening day, a total of 5 investment contracts worth 16.4 billion KRW were signed. The 'Biz Matching' session, which connects production companies and investment companies, saw 63 companies apply, resulting in a total of 214 business meetings, showing an enthusiasm that exceeded the previous year (205 cases).

The 'Asia Short-form Drama Awards (ASDA)', which started two years ago, drew keen interest with massive participation from short-form producers, production companies, and platforms from Korea, China, and Japan.

This year's BCM Conference was held in a total of 12 sessions, covering the cutting-edge agendas of the rapidly changing media industry in depth. In particular, the existing AI session was expanded and reorganized into the 'World AiCon Forum'(WAiCon), bringing attention to content planning-focused sessions utilizing generative AI technology.

The program for citizens, 'CANNESERIES X BUSAN', heated up even more. Along with the domestic premiere screening and GV Talk of the well-made historical drama Sacred Jewel, which was invited to the non-competitive section of the Cannes International Series Festival in France, the first AI-based feature film selected in the history of Canneseries, Genfluencer, directed by Harry Hyun and starring Bae Yoon-kyung, and All The Things You Are, directed by Cho Chang-geun, were screened. The producers and lead actors personally attended the Open Stage and Pink Carpet events to grace the occasion.

Executive Chairman Kwon Man-woo of the Busan Contents Market Organizing Committee stated, "By achieving the highest transaction performance ever, we have once again proven the market's inherent business competitiveness. We will continue to do our best to make the Busan Contents Market a global hub platform where K-content meets the world."

Reporter Kim Hyo-jeong teresa@busan.com

Article Link: https://www.busan.com/view/busan/view.php?code=2026062421563305191