South Korean production companies Barunson E&A and Studio N have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop film and series projects for Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, drawing on Studio N’s library of webtoon and web novel intellectual property.
The pact pairs Studio N, the production arm of Naver Webtoon known for transforming digital comics into screen content, with Barunson E&A, which has cultivated production relationships throughout Southeast Asia. The companies plan to use IP-based co-productions as a foundation for international market expansion.
Barunson E&A, known for Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” has built particularly strong ties in Indonesia through partnerships with prominent local production entities. The company works with Come And See Pictures, headed by director Joko Anwar; Visinema Pictures, producer of animated feature “Jumbo”; and Imajinari, the shingle behind the “Agak Laen” franchise. The original “Agak Laen” attracted approximately 9.1 million admissions, while follow-up “Agak Laen: Menyala Pantiku!,” released last November within the same narrative universe, has exceeded 10.9 million admissions to become Indonesia’s most-watched local film by ticket sales.
Beyond Indonesia, Barunson E&A maintains a collaboration with GDH, Thailand’s major film studio, and in Vietnam guided development of “Don’t Cry, Butterfly,” a debut feature from emerging director Duong Dieu Linh that won two awards at the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week sidebar.
Studio N has positioned itself across multiple formats including series, features and animation. The company’s 2025 theatrical release “My Daughter Is a Zombie” drew 5.6 million admissions in South Korea, while Netflix series “Chicken Nugget” earned the sole Korean nomination in the comedy category at the 53rd International Emmy Awards. The studio’s credits also include Netflix’s “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” “Nevertheless” (recently adapted as a Japanese remake), and tvN’s “Yumi’s Cells,” which spawned two live-action seasons and an animated feature.
The agreement targets Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, markets experiencing growth in both production infrastructure and creative development, with increasing emphasis on content designed for international distribution alongside domestic theatrical release.
“Our experience in overseas markets has allowed us to closely observe the evolving dynamics of the Southeast Asian content landscape,” said Yoonhee Choi, CEO of Barunson E&A. “Together with Studio N, we aim to develop and produce localized content that responds to these shifts, turning our shared potential into bold, original content rooted in regional culture, with strong global appeal.“
variety.com
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