Singapore’s IMDA and South Korea’s SBS seal international content copro alliance

Left to right: Moonshin Bang, Tan Kiat How and Yvonne Tang

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and South Korean commercial broadcaster SBS have agreed a partnership to coproduce content with international appeal.

Under the terms of the pact,IMDA and SBS will collaborate on AI-driven projects while also exploring new content forms and platforms.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding was witnessed by Tan Kiat How, senior minister of state for digital development and information, Singapore, during an industry learning trip to Seoul, South Korea.

The alliance brings together SBS’s storytelling experience with Singapore’s position as a coproduction hub, focused on connecting Asian narratives with global audiences.

It will enable media companies and professionals from Singapore and South Korea to collaborate across development, production, post-production and international distribution. This includes working together on drama series, variety shows, microdramas and non-fiction productions.

IMDA and SBS will also embrace emerging technologies such as AI to help content localisation for different markets and post-production processes.

Yvonne Tang, assistant chief executive, IMDA’s media industry group, said: “South Korea has established itself as a dominant creative force in global media, driving the cultural phenomenon we know as Hallyu or the Korean Wave.

“We’re excited to embark on this partnership with SBS as it complements Singapore’s role as a hub for international collaboration, co-production, and innovation. This is the start of many collaborations between our creators and institutions, and we look forward to what we will achieve together.”

Bang Moon-shin, CEO, SBS, said: “By combining SBS’s globally proven content production capabilities with IMDA’s strategic objectives, we will ensure a continuous flow of high-quality content optimised for the global market.”