Hollywood is increasingly looking to South Korea for stories that can travel across languages and cultures, with Korean novels, films and webtoons attracting interest from international studios.
Korean entertainment has already built a global audience through K-pop and television dramas. Now, another part of the country’s creative industry is gaining international attention: the original stories behind books, films and digital comics.
According to The Korea Times, Hollywood studios are exploring Korean intellectual property (IP) at an earlier stage of development, rather than focusing only on successful television series or films that have already proven popular. The trend includes adaptations of Korean novels, English-language remakes of Korean movies and projects based on webtoons and web novels.
A Korean Fantasy Novel Heads to Disney
One notable example is The DallerGut Dream Department Store, a fantasy novel by South Korean author Lee Mi-ye.
The story follows Penny, who works at a department store where dreams are sold to sleeping customers. As unusual events begin to unfold, the seemingly magical workplace becomes the setting for a mystery.
Disney is developing a live-action film adaptation of the novel, with screenwriter Patrick Ness attached to write the screenplay, according to The Korea Times, citing a report by Deadline.
The book has demonstrated substantial popularity beyond Korea. First published in 2020, it sold more than one million copies domestically and has since surpassed two million copies in global sales. It has also been translated into more than 20 languages.
The project illustrates how Korean stories can attract international interest even when they do not originate in K-pop, television dramas or established film franchises.
Korean Films Find New Life Through Remakes
Hollywood’s interest also extends to Korean movies that are being reimagined for new audiences.
One prominent example is Save the Green Planet!, the 2003 science-fiction film directed by Jang Joon-hwan. Although it did not become a major box-office success when first released in Korea, the film later developed a dedicated following.
Its story was adapted into Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone. The remake brought the original Korean concept to a new international audience.
Other Korean properties have attracted remake interest as well. The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, a 2019 crime thriller starring Ma Dong-seok, has been the subject of a planned U.S. remake. Meanwhile, Japan has been developing adaptations of the popular The Roundup film franchise.
These projects demonstrate that international demand is not limited to one genre. Korean crime stories, science-fiction concepts and distinctive genre films can all provide material for adaptation.
Webtoons and Web Novels Expand the Market
Digital storytelling is another important part of this development.
Korean webtoons and web novels offer established characters, detailed fictional worlds and stories that have already attracted readers. For international producers, that can provide a starting point for identifying projects with adaptation potential.
The Korea Times reported in May 2026 that overseas studios were showing growing interest in Korean webtoon intellectual property for film and streaming projects.
However, an adaptation does not guarantee international success. Producers still need to adjust storytelling, dialogue and cultural references for different audiences while retaining the elements that made the original work appealing.
Why This Matters for Korea’s Entertainment Industry
The growing interest in Korean stories creates opportunities beyond the country’s best-known entertainment exports.
Authors may gain access to international readers, filmmakers can see their work reinterpreted for new markets, and webtoon creators may find additional routes to reach audiences. Studios and rights holders can also generate new opportunities through licensing and adaptation agreements.
At the same time, each project faces practical challenges, including financing, rights negotiations, casting and the difficulty of translating culturally specific stories for a global audience.
The important distinction is that international attention does not automatically translate into successful films or long-term commercial returns. The outcome will depend on how well each adaptation preserves the original’s appeal while connecting with viewers in other markets.
From Korean Content to Korean Storytelling
The international expansion of Korean entertainment is increasingly about more than exporting finished products. It is also about bringing the underlying stories, characters and creative concepts to new audiences.
From The DallerGut Dream Department Store to Korean films being adapted overseas, these projects show the range of material attracting attention from international studios.
Whether every adaptation becomes a hit remains to be seen. But the growing interest in Korean literary and screen properties suggests that the country’s creative influence may continue to expand into new parts of the global entertainment business.
Source: The Korea Times — Korean stories becoming Hollywood’s favorite sources
Additional Sources: The Korea Times — Webtoon IP gains traction in Hollywood, emerging markets; Korean Film Council (KoBiz) — International adaptations of Korean content
Category: Entertainment
Published: October 18, 2026