South Korea anime market data: a mature Asia Pacific market
South Korea is a major anime streaming market in Asia Pacific, with high interest and strong platform competition.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: South Korea is one of the largest anime markets in Asia Pacific outside Japan. Research and Markets says Japan led Asia Pacific in anime streaming revenue in 2024, with China and South Korea following. Ampere Analysis, reported by Señal News, found that South Korea still shows among the highest interest in anime globally, alongside the Philippines and Indonesia. South Korea does not publish an official anime market size, but it is consistently included in the country scope of global and regional market research reports.
What is the anime market size in South Korea?
South Korea does not publish an official anime market size from a government or industry body. The country is included in Asia Pacific market research, and Research and Markets identifies South Korea as one of the leading Asia Pacific markets for anime streaming after Japan.
IMARC estimates that Asia Pacific held a 38.7% share of the global anime market in 2025. South Korea is one of the developed markets within that region, with high internet penetration, a mature streaming ecosystem, and strong consumer spending on entertainment.
Data limitation: South Korea-specific anime revenue is not publicly disclosed by official sources. The evidence shows strong relative position and platform activity rather than a validated country-level market size.
Streaming and audience interest
South Korean viewers have high baseline interest in anime. Ampere Analysis, reported by Señal News, named South Korea alongside the Philippines and Indonesia as Asia Pacific markets that still show the highest interest in anime, even as Europe recorded the largest recent growth.
Research and Markets says Japan led Asia Pacific anime streaming revenue in 2024 due to its role as the production origin and earliest distribution hub, with theatrical hits such as Suzume, The First Slam Dunk, and Blue Giant converting cinema demand into streaming growth. China and South Korea follow due to rising demand for Japanese anime.
Verified indicators for the South Korean anime market.| Indicator | Value | Source and period |
|---|
| Asia Pacific share of global anime market | 38.7% in 2025 | IMARC |
| South Korea regional ranking | Follows Japan and China in Asia Pacific streaming | Research and Markets, 2024 |
| South Korea interest level | Among highest in Asia Pacific | Ampere Analysis via Señal News |
| Asia Pacific streaming app share | 48.6% of global revenue in 2025 | Dataintelo |
Platform landscape
South Korean viewers access Japanese anime through both global and regional platforms. Netflix, Crunchyroll, and local streaming services all compete for anime audiences. Netflix has said that more than 50% of its members watch anime, representing over 150 million households, and that 33 anime titles appeared in its Global Top 10 non-English rankings in 2024.
Crunchyroll serves more than 15 million subscribers globally and localizes content into over 12 languages. The service identifies Asia Pacific as a region of rapid growth, though it does not disclose South Korea-specific subscriber numbers.
Co-productions and cultural overlap
South Korea's own animation and webtoon industries create both competition and collaboration with Japanese anime. Research and Markets notes that South Korea follows Japan and China in demand for Japanese anime, while Korean webtoons such as Solo Leveling have become major anime hits produced by Japanese studios.
That cross-border IP flow makes South Korea a unique market: it is both a large consumer of Japanese anime and an increasingly important source of source material for anime productions.
South Korea in the regional context
Asia Pacific is the largest and fastest-growing anime region. Dataintelo reports that Asia Pacific accounted for 48.6% of global anime streaming app revenue in 2025, equivalent to $3.31 billion, and is projected to grow at a 12.9% CAGR through 2034.
South Korea is a mature contributor to that total. Its market is smaller than Japan's but larger than most Southeast Asian markets, and its audience has both high interest and high purchasing power. The main gap in public data is the absence of country-level revenue disclosures from platforms or rights holders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the anime market size in South Korea?
There is no publicly available official estimate for South Korea's anime market size. Research and Markets identifies South Korea as one of the leading Asia Pacific anime streaming markets after Japan and China.
Is anime popular in South Korea?
Yes. Ampere Analysis named South Korea among the Asia Pacific markets with the highest interest in anime, alongside the Philippines and Indonesia.
Which platforms stream anime in South Korea?
Netflix, Crunchyroll, and local streaming services all compete in South Korea. Netflix said in 2025 that more than 50% of its members watch anime.
How does South Korea compare to Japan and China?
Japan leads Asia Pacific in anime streaming revenue, followed by China and South Korea. South Korea is a mature, high-interest market but is smaller than Japan in absolute revenue.
Sources and methodology
- Anime Streaming Research Report 2026: A $14.65 Billion Market by 2030, Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire. South Korea follows Japan and China in Asia Pacific anime streaming revenue.
- Japanese anime is growing largely in Europe, Señal News. Ampere Analysis names South Korea among Asia Pacific markets with highest anime interest.
- Anime Streaming App Market Research Report 2034, Dataintelo. Asia Pacific 48.6% share of global anime streaming app market in 2025, fastest-growing region.
- Anime Market Size, Share, Trends, and Forecast by Revenue Source, and Region, 2026-2034, IMARC. Asia Pacific 38.7% global anime market share in 2025; South Korea included in country scope.