Barunson E&A, the South Korean studio best known for producing Parasite, has entered into an agreement with fellow Korean firm Studio N to produce localised film and TV series for Southeast Asia.
Under the MoU, the two companies will jointly develop and produce content across Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, based on webtoon and web novel IP held by Studio N for screen adaptation. Through IP-driven global co-productions, they aim to gradually expand into further international markets.
In recent years, Barunson E&A has been building a strong foothold in Southeast Asia – particularly in Indonesia – by participating in co-productions and investments, as well as international remakes and global sales. This has included collaborations with leading Indonesian creators and production companies such as Come And See Pictures, led by acclaimed director Joko Anwar; Visinema Pictures, which delivered region-wide box office success with animated feature Jumbo; and Imajinari, the production company behind the blockbuster Agak Laen franchise.
Beyond Indonesia, Barunson E&A continues to collaborate with Thailand’s largest film studio, GDH, and in Vietnam led the development and production of Duong Dieu Linh’s feature directorial debut Don’t Cry, Butterfly, which won two awards at Venice Critics’ Week in 2024.
Studio N, the production subsidiary of Naver Webtoon, is behind hits including 2025 Korean box office hit My Daughter Is a Zombie and Netflix series Chicken Nugget, which secured an Emmy nomination. Further titles include Netflix series The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call; Nevertheless, which has recently been adapted as a Japanese remake; and tvN series Yumi’s Cells, produced as two seasons of a live-action series and later expanded into an animated feature.
The partnership reflects an ongoing trend in Southeast Asia, which has seen rising demand for diverse genres and content. Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam in particular are considered the region’s most dynamic markets, driven by rapid growth in their creative industries.
Yoonhee Choi, CEO of Barunson E&A, said, “Our experience in overseas markets has allowed us to closely observe the evolving dynamics of the Southeast Asian content landscape. Together with Studio N, we aim to develop and produce localised content that responds to these shifts, turning our shared potential into bold, original content rooted in regional culture, with strong global appeal.”
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