South Korea Builds K-FAST Ecosystem for Global Content Monetization
South Korea's Broadcast Media Telecommunications Commission is spearheading the development of a 'K-FAST' ecosystem to boost the global distribution of local content and tap into the growing advertising-supported streaming market. The initiative seeks to create new revenue streams for Korean broadcasters and content producers, with support from major hardware vendors like Samsung and LG, along with content and AI tech firms. The Commission also plans to define regulatory frameworks and advertising infrastructure for the nascent K-FAST market.
Key Takeaways
- Global FAST market is projected to reach ₩47 trillion (approx. $34.5 billion USD) by 2030, growing from ₩18 trillion in 2025 with a 20.9% CAGR.
- Samsung TV Plus operates in 30 countries with over 100 million monthly active users, offering 4,300 channels and 66,000 VOD titles.
- LG Channels provides over 110 channels domestically and internationally.
- Korean content currently exhibits low viewership in the global FAST market, primarily due to rerunning past content.
- The Commission will work with relevant ministries to define regulatory frameworks and advertising infrastructure for K-FAST.
Why It Matters
This move by the Broadcast Media Telecommunications Commission signals a strategic pivot for South Korean media to counter declining domestic ad revenues by prioritizing global FAST expansion. For local broadcasters and content producers, it presents a structured pathway to monetize their extensive content catalogs on platforms like Samsung TV Plus and LG Channels, backed by regulatory and technological support. The key challenge lies in developing original, tailored content for global FAST audiences, rather than recycling existing material, which will be the critical factor to watch for traction and market share.
Additional Context
The push for a K-FAST ecosystem aligns with broader South Korean government efforts to support its startup and tech sectors. In May 2026, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) promoted its startup ecosystem at BEYOND Expo, emphasizing the country's world-class digital infrastructure and R&D investment (TechNode, May 2026). This includes programs like the K-Startup Grand Challenge and the Global Startup Center, attracting international startups. Concurrently, the Ministry of Science and ICT launched 'NEST' in May 2026, a deep-tech commercialization body designed to bridge public research with market-ready startups, aiming for significant IPOs and M&As by 2030 (Seoul Economic Daily, May 2026). These initiatives collectively bolster the technological and entrepreneurial environment that could support the K-FAST ecosystem's content localization and advertising technology needs. While the Broadcast Media Telecommunications Commission is currently seeking to establish its precise regulatory role, a previous "Global K-FAST Alliance" launched by the Ministry of Science and ICT in April 2025 had its budget for AI dubbing projects cut, indicating ongoing inter-ministerial dynamics (etnews.com, June 2026). This suggests that while there is consensus on the need for global FAST expansion, the specifics of government support and departmental responsibilities are still being refined.
Read full article at digitaltoday.co.kr
Enjoy our coverage?
Add StreamingMeme as a preferred source on Google to see more of our streaming news at the top of your Search results.
Add as preferred source