Under the Queen's Umbrella

- Spanish-Language Screening Highlights CJ ENM’s Commitment to Bringing Korean Content to LATAM Audiences

Global IP Powerhouse CJ ENM successfully presented a special screening of The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, one of the breakout Korean dramas of 2026, at K-CONTENT EXPO Chile, receiving enthusiastic responses from local audiences and industry professionals.

Produced by CJ ENM’s scripted TV studio, Studio Dragon, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier follows Seong-jae Kang (played by Ji-hoon Park), a young man who enlists in the military to escape his harsh reality. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a mysterious virtual "Quest" screen, setting him on an unconventional journey to become an army cook. As he completes each mission, long-buried secrets within the military base gradually begin to surface.

Since its premiere, the series has emerged as one of the year's most talked-about Korean dramas, generating significant buzz both domestically and internationally.

Hosted by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), K-CONTENT EXPO Chile takes place in Santiago from November 4 to 7 at Centro Parque. The event brings together approximately 30 Korean companies and more than 80 companies from across the LATAM region, featuring a range of activities, including business meetings, seminars, IP showcases, and K-POP performances.

As part of the event, CJ ENM presented a special Spanish-language screening of The Legend of Kitchen Soldier on November 4 at the Araucaria Room of Centro Parque, showcasing a fully localized version of the series to regional audiences.

Prior to the one-hour screening, Angie Hyun, Head of Content Sales at CJ ENM, delivered opening remarks, expressing her excitement about introducing the series in Spanish and reaffirming the company's commitment to bringing high-quality Korean content to LATAM audiences through diverse distribution channels.

Hyun remarked, “We truly believe in the power of entertainment to bring people together and bridge cultural differences. But just as important as the content itself is how we deliver it to audiences. That's why we're especially excited about this special screening with Spanish dubbing, which will help everyone here better connect with the story and fully understand the context of The Legend of Kitchen Soldier. We hope you can immerse yourselves in the show's unique charm, enjoy its lively atmosphere, and experience the joy it has to offer.” 

The audience reacted with laughter and surprise throughout the screening, which was followed by a lively Q&A session.

Reflecting on the event, Hyun added, “We are delighted to see the tremendous love and support that K-content continues to receive through this special screening event. With The Legend of Kitchen Soldier as a starting point, we aim to bring a diverse range of K-content to audiences across LATAM, offering stories that entertain, inspire, and bring joy. We hope audiences will stay tuned for the exciting lineup of content CJ ENM has in store.”

Oh-tae Kwon, Director of the Global Business Division at the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), commented, “The globalization of K-content is already well underway, and we believe it is important to further accelerate this momentum through initiatives and events like this. With that in mind, we hope this special screening, along with K-CONTENT EXPO Chile as a whole, has demonstrated the potential of K-content and provided a glimpse of the opportunities that lie ahead for its continued global expansion.”

Building on recent collaborations with Prime Video India in July and MBC Shahid in October, CJ ENM continues to expand the global reach of Korean content through strategic partnerships and diverse distribution channels. The company will pursue further opportunities to bring compelling Korean stories to audiences worldwide as it works toward becoming the world's leading distribution hub for K-content.

New 24/7 channel on LG Channels in the U.S. and Canada features hit dance franchises, K-POP performances, and a new avenue for Korean entertainment to reach global audiences

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM and LG Channels have launched CJ ENM K-Dance, marking CJ ENM’s debut on LG Channels with a dedicated FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel. Available exclusively on LG Channels in the United States and Canada, the free, 24/7 channel brings together some of Korea’s most celebrated dance and music content, offering North American audiences a new way to experience the creativity and energy of K-Dance.

As Korean entertainment continues to gain international traction, CJ ENM K-Dance extends the reach of its established dance programming to viewers beyond its traditional distribution channels. The launch also reflects the growing role of FAST in connecting content owners with international audiences through free, ad-supported streaming.

The channel features a curated lineup of CJ ENM’s dance and music content, including the hit competition franchises Street Woman Fighter and Street Man Fighter, the dance-focused romance reality series Somebody, K-POP idol fancams, and standout performances from Mnet’s MAMA awards. Spanning competitive street dance, reality entertainment, and iconic K-POP stages, the programming showcases the range of Korean dance culture and the performers who have helped bring it to a global audience.

For the creators and performers behind these productions, the launch offers an opportunity to share their work with new audiences in a market with a rich street dance heritage.

Jung-nam Choi, director and producer of the Street Woman Fighter series, said, “We are genuinely glad to see some of our K-Dance shows become part of CJ ENM’s FAST service journey in North America, where street dance culture is deeply rooted in people’s hearts.”

Choi added, “Since we first began developing the Street Woman Fighter franchise and our unique K-Dance universe, we have envisioned sharing the beauty of Korean dance culture and our core message that ‘dance can express something deeper than words’ with audiences around the world. Witnessing this meaningful moment fills me with renewed enthusiasm and motivation to further expand the K-Dance universe.”

Korean dance artists Kooyoung Back and BADA LEE also welcomed the launch, highlighting the opportunity to share their performances with North American viewers.

“We are very excited to learn that our stages, created through genuine blood, sweat, and tears, will be showcased to North American viewers, where street dance culture has deep roots,” they said.

“We hope viewers will connect with the passion for dance expressed through our movements and enjoy the intense yet heartwarming moments captured in the shows.”

Beyond the programming itself, the launch reflects CJ ENM’s broader strategy to expand the international distribution of its entertainment portfolio through emerging streaming models. FAST and AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand) platforms provide additional avenues for established content IP to reach audiences while creating opportunities for advertising-supported monetization.

Eun-hye Park, Head of FAST/AVOD Business at CJ ENM, said, “Dance has a unique ability to transcend language and cultural barriers, connecting audiences around the world. The launch of CJ ENM K-Dance on LG Channels gives us an opportunity to introduce our acclaimed Street Woman Fighter franchise and other distinctive dance content to a broader North American audience.”

Park added, “Moving forward, we will continue to expand distribution across major global FAST and AVOD platforms by leveraging our distinctive music and entertainment IP and extensive content library. By broadening our audience reach and strengthening advertising monetization, we aim to further enhance the competitiveness of our global content business.”

Sebastian Kim, Vice President and Head of Content Business Unit at CJ ENM, said, “FAST and AVOD are important components of CJ ENM’s strategy to expand its role as a global distribution hub for K-Content. Through partnerships such as this one with LG Channels, we aim to bring our content to more viewers around the world, creating new opportunities for audiences to discover and enjoy Korean entertainment.”

With the launch of CJ ENM K-Dance, CJ ENM and LG Channels are combining established entertainment IP with a free, always-on streaming format to introduce Korean dance and performance to a wider North American audience.

- <Street Restaurant Fighter> Nominated for the Competition – Lifestyle Category at the Realscreen Awards

- CJ ENM Showcases Its Global Content Competitiveness Through Original Concepts and Outstanding Execution

CJ ENM’s <Street Restaurant Fighter> has been nominated for the Realscreen Awards, an international awards program honoring excellence in non-fiction programming, marking a milestone for the company’s original unscripted content on the global stage.

The series, which concluded its run in September, was directed by Woo-hyung Lee and Man-hee Kim. <Street Restaurant Fighter> is a real-world business survival competition that pits 20 top chefs and restaurateurs against one another, with customers deciding who stays in the competition and who is eliminated. Moving beyond conventional cooking competitions that focus primarily on culinary skills, the series explores the realities of running a food business, from analyzing commercial districts and calculating food costs to designing interiors and developing sales strategies. Its realistic portrayal of the challenges of entrepreneurship, combined with the contestants’ determination and unexpected twists, offers a fresh take on competition programming.

The series’ distinctive concept has also attracted international industry attention. <Street Restaurant Fighter> has been nominated in the Competition – Lifestyle category at the Realscreen Awards, which recognizes outstanding non-fiction programming. The awards bring together industry professionals from broadcasters, production companies and content distributors to evaluate programs across a range of categories. By moving beyond the conventions of traditional cooking competitions and placing real-world business decisions at the heart of the format, <Street Restaurant Fighter> offers a distinctive viewing experience for audiences worldwide.

The nomination follows the Realscreen Awards win by <Kiss the Future>, a documentary produced by CJ ENM’s global studio FIFTH SEASON, in the Non-Fiction Arts & Culture category last year. <Street Restaurant Fighter> marks the first nomination for a CJ ENM-produced original series at the awards. The recognition highlights CJ ENM’s ability to develop original unscripted formats with international appeal, supported by its distinctive concepts and strong production capabilities. It also underscores the potential of Korean unscripted programming to resonate with industry professionals beyond its home market.

Woo-hyung Lee, executive producer at CJ ENM, said, “We wanted to take a different approach by moving beyond traditional cooking competitions that focus solely on culinary skills and capturing the realities of running a business in Korea. I’m delighted that audiences around the world have connected with this fresh approach and become immersed in the series. CJ ENM has a diverse slate of reality programming, and I hope to see more of our content reach and resonate with audiences worldwide.”