Issue Focus

K-Culture Powers Up Survival Shows : From Food to Beauty and Shamanism

This article shows how Korean creators are redefining survival entertainment by fusing emerging

K-culture assets—K-Food, K-Beauty, and now K-Shamanism—offering global buyers a preview of 

high-concept formats with proven international traction and strong cross-industry spillover effects.

♦  K-Shamanism Emerges as Fresh Differentiator

      • Disney+ produces Battle of Fates featuring 49 destiny specialists including shamans, Saju, foot readers,

          tarot experts testing their fate through missions

      • Format leverages Korean shamanism familiar domestically but novel globally, following hits like K-pop Demon Hunters

♦  K-Food Survival Proves Global Formula

      • Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars showcased local masters including 15-year schoolmeal expert and 30-year

          Gyeongdong Market hand-cut noodle Imokase chef

      • Became first Korean unscripted show topping Netflix Global Non-English TV chart three consecutive weeks,

          reaching high viewership in Canada, Germany, US

♦  K-Beauty Format Drives Platform and Industry Growth

      • Just Makeup (Coupang Play, launched Oct 3) united top Korean artists serving Kpop idols/actors with

          global makeup experts and beauty creators

      • Ranked #1 on Coupang Play five consecutive weeks, contributing most to Coupang Play reaching #2 in Korea’s MAU

♦  Cultural IP Replaces Generic Competition Formats

      • Traditional survival shows focused on universal topics and participant conflict, while K-culture formats

          function as promotional vehicles for Korean traditions

      • Global OTT official notes hip-hop and K-pop survival shows saturated, with makeup and shamanism

          formats offering differentiation

Source

Yonhap News Agency. (2025.11.17)

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20251115047400005?section=entertainment/all