Warner Bros. Discovery and leading Korean studio CJ ENM have inked a multi-year strategic partnership to co-produce Korean dramas and bring CJ’s TVING streaming service into the HBO Max ecosystem across Asia. The agreement marks Warner Bros. Discovery’s most significant commitment to date to the buzzy category of Korean content, and it underscores the ongoing drive by CJ ENM, the studio behind Bong Joon-ho’s multi-Oscar winner Parasite and smash-hit drama series like Crash Landing on You, to expand the reach of Korean storytelling worldwide.
Beginning in early 2026, HBO Max subscribers in 17 markets across Asia Pacific — including Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong — will gain access to a branded TVING hub that will premiere new original K-dramas and showcase CJ ENM’s deep library of scripted and unscripted titles. Ahead of the launch, several K-content titles will roll out starting in November, led by the premiere of the highly anticipated drama Dear X on Nov. 6.
The two companies will also co-invest in and co-produce original Korean dramas for global distribution on HBO Max.
“We are honored to partner with CJ ENM, a true leader in creating universally popular stories that resonate worldwide,” said David Zaslav, CEO of WBD. “This collaboration marks a cornerstone of our commitment to great locally relevant stories in key markets around the world.”
“We are proud to partner with Warner Bros. Discovery, a global powerhouse whose stories have inspired audiences for generations worldwide,” said Miky Lee, vice chairwoman of CJ Group. “K-content captivates audiences everywhere with its creativity and originality. At CJ ENM, our mission has always been to connect people through the power of storytelling. This partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery takes that mission to a new level, combining Warner Bros. Discovery’s storytelling legacy with CJ’s unique voice.”
Further details about the TVING hub and upcoming content lineup will be revealed in the months ahead.
The deal marks the latest step in CJ ENM’s expanding web of global partnerships. The company’s drama arm, Studio Dragon, has been a cornerstone supplier for Netflix since the two companies struck a long-term output and co-production agreement in 2019. Under that deal, CJ has delivered some of the streamer’s most popular Korean series, including Crash Landing on You, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Stranger and Mr. Sunshine. Studio Dragon also partnered with Skydance Television to adapt Hotel Del Luna for international audiences, while CJ ENM continues to collaborate with Prime Video and Disney on select projects. With HBO Max now joining its roster of global partners, the company only further solidifies its position as the go-to powerhouse of Korean premium storytelling.
“HBO Max is the streaming destination for unique, premium storytelling, so this partnership with CJ ENM, a leader in the enormously popular K-content genre, aligns perfectly with our strategy and brand,” added JB Perrette, CEO of global streaming and games at WBD.
Added Pious Jung, CEO of CJ America and president of content for CJ ENM: “Through our extensive partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, we will strive for the sustainable growth of K-culture, which has now become a lifestyle for many across the globe.”