A still from the film "Hope." Before its opening, "Hope" was sold to more than 200 countries worldwide, setting a record for the highest pre-sale amount ever for a Korean film abroad. [Plus M Entertainment, Forged Films]
A still from the film "Hope." Before its opening, "Hope" was sold to more than 200 countries worldwide, setting a record for the highest pre-sale amount ever for a Korean film abroad. [Plus M Entertainment, Forged Films]

Amid K-content's rise as one of South Korea's leading export industries, a new analysis finds that hallyu industry exports are driving growth in related sectors and boosting overall domestic production. The findings confirm in concrete figures that the hallyu industry has established itself as an economic engine contributing not only to the content sector but also to expanded exports of tourism and consumer goods.

According to a report on the economic effects of hallyu industry exports published Thursday by the Korea Creative Content Agency, a $100 million increase in hallyu industry exports is estimated to generate a $202 million rise in exports from hallyu-related industries. The figures suggest that K-content is amplifying consumption and exports in related sectors — including cosmetics, food and tourism — well beyond the value of the content exports themselves.

Breaking down the effects by category, based on a $100 million increase in hallyu industry exports, IT device exports showed the largest gain at $105 million. Cosmetics exports were estimated to rise by $73 million, followed by apparel at $17 million and food at $15 million.

The report derived these trade-creation effects through regression analysis of panel data covering South Korea's hallyu industry exports and hallyu-related industry exports across six regions — including China, Japan, Southeast Asia, North America and Europe — from 2006 to 2024.

Hallyu industry export effects [Korea Creative Content Agency]
Hallyu industry export effects [Korea Creative Content Agency]

Building on these trade-creation effects, the report estimates that every $100 million in K-content exports triggers $570 million in total domestic production. Producing $100 million worth of hallyu exports induces $170 million in domestic production; that in turn drives $202 million in hallyu-related industry exports; and the production processes behind those related-industry exports generate an additional $400 million in output.

The report also found that a $100 million increase in hallyu industry exports would create 3,389 jobs across the hallyu industry and its related sectors combined — 1,251 in the hallyu industry's own production processes and 2,138 in related industries.

Meanwhile, content exports reached $14.9 billion in 2025, ranking 12th among South Korea's top export items and cementing their place as a major export industry. By sector, games accounted for the largest share at 64.3% of total content exports, while music posted average annual growth of 29.7% and comics 26.3%.

Among hallyu-related industries, tourism held the largest share. Cosmetics was the fastest-growing category, with an average annual growth rate of 21.3%. Cosmetics exports have also expanded beyond their traditional base in China into North America and Europe, illustrating how hallyu's economic influence is spreading across a wider range of industries.

"Hallyu industry exports are growing rapidly and carry strong spillover effects on consumer goods and tourism exports," the report said, recommending that the hallyu industry — as a core driver of the South Korean economy — requires diverse, coordinated support strategies to maximize its ripple effects.

Kim Yun-ji, head of the Korea Creative Content Agency, said the analysis "confirms that the ripple effects of K-content are having a positive impact on the broader real economy, including hallyu-related industries." She added that the agency would "continue to contribute to enhancing the economic and cultural value of K-culture through ongoing research and analysis of hallyu and its related industries."


balme@heraldcorp.com