[Interview] What does Union Pictures (Uionpic.net) CEO Kwon Tae-ho think of as “global cultural content”?

Domestic Performance • It is said that less than 1% of cultural content agencies are able to regularly conduct activities in the United States, Asia, and Europe in addition to domestic production businesses. 

Korean Culture • Media content is more competitive than ever, but the reality is that, with the exception of large entertainment companies, most domestic general agencies and cultural content producers are limited to domestic or specific country localization.

 Union Pictures (Uionpic.net) Kwon Tae-ho

Union Pictures (www.unionpic.net) is being designed as a global cultural content group that will operate the U.S. headquarters, Korea, and multiple Asian branches starting in 2025. Performance • It is an entertainment agency focusing on entertainment business. 

In 2024-2025, we will be collaborating with over 50 artists including Ivy, SF9's Dawon, Jooho, GFRIEND's Sowon, Victon's Byungchan Choi, Soobin Jeong, Up10tion's Lee Jinhyuk, and actor Choi Jinhyuk. Currently, Korea's first K-pop Seoul City Tour Bus (Leaving with a Star) will be held. Travel) is about to be launched exclusively with the travel agency Yellow Balloon.

In addition, we are steadily expanding equity investment and participation in startups that can be linked to cultural content IP.

What does Union Pictures CEO Kwon Tae-ho think is the direction of global cultural content, and why are they expanding overseas? 

Photo courtesy of Union Pictures

Regarding this, CEO Kwon Tae-ho said, "As all content and experiences are globalized and digitized, it has become more difficult to plan with a perspective limited to Korea or a specific region. It is not a matter of choice, but to look at the world as an audience, “I believe that developing a strategy to tailor technical content according to each country’s characteristics is now a necessity, not an option,” he said.

When asked about what kind of performances, festivals, and tourism content he plans to produce in the future, CEO Kwon said, "We do not hope to be remembered simply as an agency or production company that produces performances and themed tourism products. Of course, we have already become one of the most diverse production companies. We are becoming one, but we do not think that is everything. Cultural content is the most effective communication strategy in the world, and ultimately, our job is to create emotion and inspiration. “I think it’s the essence.” He added an explanation.

He continued, "It's similar to chefs, artists, film directors, writers, etc. As times change and platforms change, our 'creative methods that move the heart' will also change. Specifically, in the case of performance content, people around the world We plan to set enjoyable themes and connect seasonal themed tourism products with cultural package products and membership operations (K-Culture Tour Pass) based on exclusive experiences. “For IP, we are investing in animation linked to VFX and planning to provide media that allows users to experience such IP in various forms, such as a virtual reality themed space service,” he answered. 

Photo courtesy of Union Pictures

Lastly, he said, “Planning global cultural content may seem grandiose, but in fact, I think most creators of our generation are already in the process of entering the global market. It is not a field that only our PDs and directors can do. Most of our generation is planning global cultural content. I think it's the same as anyone else, and with the advancement of social and media, and the acceleration of AI and digital connectivity, we are 'already' delivering our messages to people on the other side of the world, whether we intend to do so or not. “It’s not that, it’s a way of working that most people in our time can already enjoy, and it’s a field that they can excel at,” he emphasized.

Union Pictures seeks to create a better world through cultural content. We are regularly linking donation culture campaigns through collaboration with public interest foundations such as Save the Children, and are also strengthening cooperation with the global platform See Ticket and major global hotels.

Union Pictures, which aims to become a creative team like Pixar, is currently running an investment business at its U.S. branch and a performance/tourism event business at its Korean branch.

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