OTF forges ‘landmark’ Korean content pact with RAPA
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Editor
| 20 October 2022
In a collaboration designed to enhance the development of the country’s factual IP for the international market, Off The Fence (OTF) is joining forces with RAPA, the association that represents and promotes the interests of the Korean broadcasting industry.
OTF BO 20Oct2022
RAPA’s role is to serve as a bridge between Korea’s broadcasting industry and the government, supporting and strengthening the industry’s competitiveness, while fostering a safe and dynamic environment for the production and distribution of Korean content. Now entering its third decade, RAPA has around 140 members drawn from across the media spectrum, from broadcasters and communication businesses to telecoms players, equipment manufacturers, and research and educational institutes.

Under the deal, OTF will be granted access to RAPA’s wide-ranging catalogue of factual programming with the aim of reversioning, repackaging and/or developing it for international sale. In turn, RAPA will promote OTF to Korean filmmakers as a potential co-production partner for factual projects. Furthermore, both partners will work to stimulate Korea’s emerging factual production sector, sharing resources, expertise and networks to help develop, produce and distribute fresh and original content for global audiences.

“This pact gives OTF access to an untapped world of storytelling. It’s no secret that Korea is a content powerhouse, known around the world for its border-breaking dramas, and weird but wonderful formats. But the mighty hallyu, or Korean Wave, isn’t just about entertainment. In recent years, the country’s independent production community has been intensifying its focus on factual programming — and the results are stunning. said Off The Fence CEO Bo Stehmeir commenting on the deal. “We’ve been blown away by the quality and creativity of RAPA’s catalogue, and we reckon the international market will be equally impressed. We can’t wait to work with RAPA to amplify the voice of Korea’s brilliant factual producers and to help our Korean friends to build a robust and sustainable market for their creative output.”

Ki Hoon Gwak, next-generation media promotion division director of RAPA added: “We expect this collaboration to serve as an opportunity to introduce Korea’s excellent UHD content to the global market. Besides the drama genre that has been in the limelight recently, Korea boasts of numerous first-rate documentary producers and content. We’ll give our full support to ensure that diverse Korean content break into the global market through collaboration with OTF.”