Original Coverage & Source Attribution: deadline.com
U-KNOCK 2026 will connect Korean content and technology companies with U.S. investors and entertainment partners on November 4–6, 2026, at The Biltmore Los Angeles. The program is hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA).
Now in its third year, U-KNOCK builds on relationships with international investors and Hollywood studios, emphasizing deal-making and long-term partnerships. Key programs include the International Content Investment Forum on November 5 and one-on-one investment and business meetings on November 6.
The November 5 forum, themed “What Makes Content Last,” will bring together Korean and U.S. leaders in media, finance and technology to examine how cultural success becomes enduring commercial value. Discussions will explore IP monetization, global franchise expansion and emerging business models driven by AI, digital platforms and evolving investment strategies.
U.S. participants include The Raine Group; Shamrock Capital; Atwater Capital; J.P. Morgan Global Corporate Bank; Amblin Entertainment; and Anonymous Content, who all bring perspectives across entertainment finance, investment and production.
From Korea, speakers will include global transmedia company CJ ENM; YLAB, which develops webtoon universes and screen adaptations; character-IP company IPX (formerly LINE FRIENDS); creator-focused comedy label MetaComedy; Moneygraphy, the original-content media outlet from financial platform Toss; and bemyfriends, a provider of direct-to-consumer fandom business solutions. Together, they will examine how stories travel across formats, how content models evolve and how global fan communities can support sustainable businesses.
Five Korean companies will then present at the Korean Company Showcase. Modhaus, the company behind K-pop group tripleS and Web3 fan-participation platform COSMO, will appear alongside YN Culture & Space (YN C&S), known for its LED-wall virtual production and advanced production infrastructure; Klleon, which develops real-time multilingual interactive digital humans; Contents First, operator of Tappytoon and its global audience of more than 14 million readers; and Studio Eon, which uses an Unreal Engine-based pipeline to produce science-fiction animation. The companies will present their business models and plans for North American expansion.
On November 6, the five showcase participants will be joined by seven more companies for one-on-one business meetings. The full 12-company delegation spans original story IP in drama, film, animation and web novels, as well as generative AI, interactive entertainment and fan platforms. Meetings are intended to connect the companies with North American investors, buyers, studios and other potential business partners.
The additional participants include Big Ocean ENM, with crime procedurals Flex X Cop and Another Heaven, the latter in development; EO Content Group, developing action-espionage series TEAM-K; and Mstoryhub, whose webtoon IP includes The Remarried Empress. LOCUS is developing Kkokdu, a 3D family fantasy feature inspired by Korean funeral traditions. RECOV combines K-pop touring, merchandise and VIP services, while JIRO brings AI content-production platform Dropshot AI and AI-generated K-pop idol IP SEORIA. Draftify’s PlaySquad rounds out the lineup with playable livestreaming that lets viewers influence gameplay.
U.S. and international investors, buyers and production executives interested in attending the International Content Investment Forum or requesting one-on-one meetings with the 12 participating Korean companies can register and submit meeting requests at www.uknockglobal.com.
