MIPCOM Spotlight: CJ ENM

A smart but merciless attorney takes center stage in Lawless Lawyer, one of CJ ENM’s drama highlights.

The company is also promoting Children of a Lesser God, which tells the story of a pseudo-religious group, and Live, focused on a local police patrol.

“Already hugely successful in Korea, these three dramas have stories that can be easily understood and recognized in different territories and cultures,” says Diane Min, the head of format sales at CJ ENM. “All of them have simple elements and interesting plots that are easily adaptable in diverse regions in different ways. Most of [our] dramas share these kinds of elements, which appeal to and attract global buyers and are the reasons that CJ ENM’s meeting tables are always full at markets.”

Music and food are brought together in the game-show format Music Bites, which CJ ENM is also presenting to international buyers in Cannes. “We don’t see many game shows in CJ ENM’s lineup, but this recently launched format made a great landing in Korea,” says Min.

Love at First Song looks on as individuals search for their soul mates through music. Min describes the format as being a mix of American Idol and The Bachelor.

Love Catcher, meanwhile, puts a new spin on the typical dating-show format, with some participants who are pretending to be interested in making a romantic connection in order to earn money. “We have seen lots of matching dating shows but never a trick of fake love in that genre,” Min says.

Friendship, teamwork and problem solving are the main themes in the kids’ animated series Robot Trains, which “features a variety of characters with their own distinctive personalities and skills, along with an attractive storyline,” according to Joseph Kim, head of the global business team for the animation division at CJ ENM.

The company is also promoting Rainbow Ruby, which is more of a girl-skewing property. “Rainbow Ruby delivers the message that children can become anything they want with their passions and dreams,” says Kim.

Pucca, meanwhile, is a globally successful brand that is being rebooted with an animated show. “The new series is to be launched in 2019 in the form of 3D CGI,” adds Kim. “Pucca will be appealing to every consumer group, regardless of age or gender.”