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Content media group NEW, which topped the film investment and distribution market last year, is aiming to reclaim its industry leadership after completing a revamp of its lineup.
NEW announced on the 4th that it has finalized a film investment and distribution lineup of five titles this year and has entered full-scale production. The strategy targets both profitability and intellectual property (IP) scalability, with the aim of sustaining growth momentum.
Building Super IP with Three Proven Box-Office Directors: Jang Jae-hyun, Um Tae-hwa, and Kang Hyung-chul
NEW is securing core IP by joining hands with directors who have already proven both commercial appeal and artistic merit. The company plans to expand beyond the domestic market into the global market by securing new works from directors such as Jang Jae-hyun, who set a new standard for Korean-style occult films by drawing 10 million viewers with "Exhuma"; Um Tae-hwa, who elevated the polish of genre films with "Concrete Utopia"; and Kang Hyung-chul, who proved both mass appeal and gripping storytelling with films like "Scandal Makers" and "Sunny."
First, Jang Jae-hyun's new film "Vampire" is regarded as a highly anticipated work, signaling yet another genre evolution within the expanding universe that runs through "The Priests," "Svaha: The Sixth Finger," and "Exhuma." Um Tae-hwa's "A Good Place to Live" is being produced as a work that further strengthens the dense narrative and psychological depiction shown in his previous film, targeting both genre tension and realism. Kang Hyung-chul's "If I'm With You" foregrounds an emotional arc that spans generations, built on his signature rhythmic direction and character-centered storytelling.
Expanding Production Company Collaborations… Strengthening Portfolio with Two Mid-to-Large Anticipated Titles
Earlier this year, NEW finalized investment in two projects backed by competitive planning capabilities and is raising their quality through collaboration with top-tier production companies in each field. Sanai Pictures, which has consistently presented genre content such as action, noir, and period dramas, and Covenant Pictures, which produced the hit "What If We," are respectively handling "High School Detective" and "The Six Lying College Students (working title)" in production.
As a strategic lineup continuing the momentum of the mega-hit "Zombie Daughter," last year's No. 1 at the Korean box office, NEW is once again targeting the all-generation tentpole market through "High School Detective." The film features Yoon Kyung-ho, who has shown comic and relatable acting in works such as "Cooking Soldier Becomes a Legend," and Kim Hye-yoon, who left a strong impression on screen with "Salmokji." The work has drawn high interest from its early stages on the strength of its unconventional premise and casting combination alone, and its release timing is currently being coordinated.
Another project, "The Six Lying College Students (working title)," is a mid-budget production support title from the Korean Film Council, and its quality was recognized from the planning stage based on a solid scenario structure. It is a psychological drama in which six finalist candidates engage in team discussions over a single successful hire, featuring a large roster of rising stars including Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Bae Kang-hee. Director Kim Jung-hoon helms the project, signaling an ensemble-centered, tension-filled narrative.
Meanwhile, NEW is accelerating IP expansion not only in its film business but across its drama and platform businesses. Studio&New's drama "Good Partner 2" has confirmed an SBS slot in the second half of the year, and the company is also speeding up the diversification of its revenue structure through content aimed at global platforms, such as NewPoint's "Charge Me Up" (Netflix) and "I Am the Sinner" (Disney+).
