The global spread of Korean content is serving as a driving force behind export growth in related industries such as cosmetics, food and tourism, according to a new analysis. In particular, the study found that every $100 million increase in K-content exports generates an economic ripple effect of more than $200 million in additional exports from Hallyu-related industries.
The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) announced on the 9th that it has published KOCCA Focus No. 214, "Economic Effects of Hallyu Industry Exports," analyzing the impact of the Hallyu industry on the domestic economy and related industries.
The report is an empirical analysis of the economic effects of the Hallyu industry since the enforcement of the Framework Act on the Promotion of Hallyu Industry. It examined the linkage between Hallyu content and related industries based on export data from 2006 to 2024 covering major regions including Greater China, Japan, Southeast Asia, North America and Europe.
The analysis found that when Hallyu industry exports increase by $100 million, exports from Hallyu-related industries rise by $202 million. This confirms a structure in which interest in and favorable perceptions of Korean culture formed through content lead to expanded consumption of Korean products and services such as cosmetics, food and tourism.
◇ K-Pop and Webtoons Show Notable Growth Amid Game-Led Expansion
Among Hallyu industry export sectors, games accounted for the largest share at 64.3% of total exports. However, the growth of the music and comics sectors also stood out.
The music industry, centered on K-pop, grew at an annual average rate of 29.7%, while the comics sector, driven by the expansion of the webtoon market, also posted a high annual average growth rate of 26.3%. The analysis indicates that the influence of K-content, backed by global fandoms, is expanding across diverse genres.
Among Hallyu-related industries, tourism accounted for the largest share, while cosmetics showed the fastest growth trajectory with an annual average growth rate of 21.3%. The cosmetics export market, previously centered on Greater China, has expanded to North America and Europe, confirming that the Hallyu effect is spreading beyond specific regions into the global market. KOCCA projected that content exports will reach $14.9 billion in 2025, noting that the sector has grown into roughly the 12th-largest among Korea's major export items.
◇ K-Content Exports Also Generate Domestic Production and Employment
The expansion of Hallyu industry exports also has a direct impact on the domestic economy.
According to the report, a $100 million increase in Hallyu industry exports is estimated to generate a total domestic production inducement effect of $570 million (approximately 782.4 billion won). Of this, 234.1 billion won in production effects arises from the content industry's production process, and 548.3 billion won from Hallyu-related industries.
The employment inducement effect was also found to be 3,389 jobs. The content industry itself accounts for 1,251 jobs, while related industries such as cosmetics and tourism generate 2,138 jobs.
The report assessed that Hallyu has moved beyond a mere cultural phenomenon to become an industrial foundation driving national economic growth. In particular, it stressed the need for sustained policy support to strengthen the linkage effects among content, consumer goods and the tourism industry.
"Through this analysis, we confirmed that the influence of the Hallyu industry (K-content) is having a positive effect across the real economy, including related industries," said Kim Yoon-ji, president of KOCCA. "Going forward, we will continue to work on enhancing the economic and cultural value of K-culture through research and analysis on Hallyu and its related industries."
Meanwhile, KOCCA Focus No. 214, "Economic Effects of Hallyu Industry Exports," is available free of charge on the KOCCA website.
