The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) successfully hosted the 2025 K-Content Expo in Saudi Arabia from July 22 to 24 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center, Riyadh Minhal. The three-day event aimed to support the overseas expansion of Korean content companies and strengthen business and cultural ties with the Middle East.
Organised by KOCCA UAE, the Expo marked a significant step in introducing Korean content to a region where it has been underrepresented, while also laying a practical foundation for long-term business exchanges between Korea and Saudi Arabia.
A total of 30 Korean content companies, including Astory, KT ENA, Aurora World, and Content Lab Blue, took part in the Expo. Over the course of the event, these companies engaged in 447 export consultation meetings with 83 companies from across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, resulting in potential deals worth approximately $36.33 million (KRW 50 billion).
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed during the Expo, highlighting the growing commercial interest in Korean content. Gawon Global, Nonsense, Something Special, and Character Link signed MOUs with Kuwaiti animation production company MBVision Studios, while Mangrove formalised an agreement with Saudi Arabia-based Elegant Media.
The Expo featured both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) components. While business consultations facilitated direct engagement between Korean content producers and regional buyers, the public programs included promotional booths and a K-drama soundtrack concert that attracted Korean Wave fans and showcased the diversity of Korean creative output. An interactive content zone, PLAYGROUND: K, allowed visitors to engage directly with Korean innovations in broadcasting, gaming, and animation.
The event also served as a platform for strategic dialogue with key Saudi government agencies, including the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, the Saudi Tourism Authority, and the Saudi Film Commission. These meetings explored opportunities for collaboration in content development, broadcasting, and talent exchange.
Eom Yoon-sang, Head of the Content Export Division at KOCCA, said: “This K-Content Expo was an opportunity to confirm that Saudi Arabia is pursuing a diversified economic cooperation strategy that includes content industry exchanges beyond being a simple energy exporter. Based on cooperation with the Saudi Arabian government, we will strive to play a role in helping domestic content companies advance into the Middle East through future business center openings.”
