KOCCA Appoints Experienced Cultural Content Industry Veteran as Its New CEO

Seoul, Korea-Nov, 4. 2007- Ko, S. Man has been named as the new CEO & President of the Korea Culture and Content Agency (KOCCA) as of October 19, 2007.

For the last 35 years, Ko has worked as MBC TV Producer and distinguished Executive Director, amounting considerable experiences in the cultural content industry. He was also previously the CEO at EBS and Director at MBC TV, and has been widely considered as a professional business manager with outstanding administrative caliber and who has excelled in organization management.

"Amid the rapid changes in the cultural industry, such as the FTA, the convergense between broadcasting and telecommunication, and the new Korean Wave, it is imperative to create cultural content that is competitive in the international market,?said Ko. "I will exert all my efforts to contribute to the globalization of Korea's cultural?

Kim, Jong-Min, Minister of Culture and Tourism said, "As the head of an institution that supports the cultural industry, which represents the next key growth –driving industry, the new CEO of KOCCA should focus on creative content development, nurturing human resources and global marketing so that the cultural content industry can play a leading role in the country's economic development."

KOCCA Introduction

Since 2001, KOCCA has supported cultural content development, built a foundation for content creation, revitalized international cultural exchange and overseas export, and provided training for creative professionals.
The Korean cultural content industry, whose development potential has been fully recognized in IT and digital technology, has been rapidly growing in the global market. Especially in Asia, the competitive value of Korean content has been verified with ‘Han-ryu,?the Korean wave.

KOCCA is committed to fostering the growth of Korean creative content such as animation, cartoon, character and gaming in the United States and Europe.

KOCCA, Reaching Out to the World
With its “Turn the Original Culture?program, KOCCA manages projects that utilize Korea’s 5,000 years of unique history to create digital contents.

KOCCA identifies and incubates relatively young but outstanding companies, as well as start-up companies with creativity and technological potential with its “Star Project.?
Through these programs, KOCCA offers Korean companies opportunities to advance into the world market.
Through awards like the ‘Korea Cultural Content Export Awards?and the ‘Global Mobile Content Awards,?which are handed out every year, KOCCA encourages exchange between Korean cultural content companies in Korea and overseas.
Furthermore, KOCCA branch offices in the USA, Europe, Japan and China assist Korean companies with building their business and engaging in international joint development projects.

KOCCA, Providing Educational Tools
KOCCA provides various training programs such as the ‘Global Leader Training Course?and the ‘Global Business Course.?People can receive training at the Cultural Contents Education Center, as well as develop and plan projects.

KOCCA, Leader of Technology
KOCCA has created a Cultural Technology Road Map for developing cultural content, and is in the process of developing ‘Core Technology?and ‘Custom-made Technology.?KOCCA also supports the establishment of a CT (cultural technology) research institute for the development of the country’s cultural content industry.