Hive Media Corp. & Mindmark Join Forces to Aim for Top K-Content Studio

Content production powerhouse Hive Media Corp. and Shinsegae's content firm Mindmark have officially partnered, aiming to ascend to the top of the K-content studio landscape.

The two companies announced on the 20th that they have signed a strategic business agreement with the goal of becoming Korea's number one studio. This collaboration will establish a joint investment and distribution system, enabling mutual investment and distribution of each company's productions and investments for the next five years.

Founded in 2014, Hive Media Corp. has consistently delivered critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as 'Inside Men,' 'The King's Men,' 'The Discloser,' and '12.12: The Day.' Notably, '12.12: The Day,' released in 2023, attracted over 13 million viewers, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. Their 2025 releases have also seen significant success, invigorating the cinema scene. Beyond films, Hive Media Corp. is expanding its reach into series with 'Made in Korea,' starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, set to premiere on Disney+ on December 24th. Upcoming projects include director Hur Jin-ho's 'The Assassin(s)' and director Nam Dong-hyup's next film starring Song Kang-ho, 'The Gardeners' (working title), scheduled for filming in 2026.

Mindmark, established by Shinsegae in 2020, entered the drama production business by acquiring Studio 329, producing hits like 'Glitched' and 'Wedding Impossible.' They have since expanded into film investment and distribution, releasing Korean films such as 'A Man of Will,' 'Honey Sweet,' and '30 Days,' as well as distributing A24's blockbuster 'Civil War.' Upcoming releases include director Park Hoon-jung's global action film 'The Accursed,' officially invited to the Sitges Film Festival, and the tvN drama 'How to Become a Landlord in Korea,' starring Ha Jung-woo and Im Soo-jung, slated for early next year.

This strategic alliance is expected to create significant synergy by combining Hive Media Corp.'s robust planning, production capabilities, and original IP with Mindmark's extensive experience in production, investment, and distribution. Through this partnership, both companies aim to lead the advancement of K-content, create a positive impact on the domestic content industry, and ultimately establish themselves as the premier studio in Korea.

Kim Won-guk, CEO of Hive Media Corp., emphasized the synergy created by the partnership, stating, "An alliance has been formed that can create powerful synergy from content planning to investment, production, marketing, and distribution." He added, "We look forward to revitalizing the Korean film market by exploring multifaceted approaches to enhance content competitiveness, expand audiences, and broaden content dissemination."

Netizens expressed excitement, commenting, "Hive and Shinsegae? I can trust this collaboration!" "If it's the production company behind '12.12: The Day,' expectations are naturally high," and "The lineup of upcoming projects is incredible." Many also anticipate the partnership will further elevate the global status of K-content.