Disney Korea and Kakao Entertainment are joining forces to explore a new wave of global entertainment projects that combine K-pop intellectual property (IP) with Disney’s iconic stories and characters.
According to Asia Business Daily, the strategic partnership, announced Wednesday, September 16, will see the two companies pursue approximately 10 projects over the medium to long term, spanning music, content, commerce and live entertainment.
As part of the collaboration, Disney Korea and Kakao Entertainment will also discuss the creation of a provisional “K-Culture Fund” designed to support the partnership’s initiatives. However, details surrounding the proposed fund—including its size, launch date and the projects it would finance—have yet to be determined.
Disney and Kakao Explore K-Pop Crossover
Under the partnership, Kakao Entertainment plans to bring its extensive K-culture intellectual property ecosystem together with Disney’s global portfolio of stories and characters. The companies aim to develop new forms of entertainment that can introduce K-pop IP to international audiences while expanding Disney’s storytelling into new formats.
Disney and Kakao Entertainment are teaming up to bring K-pop IP together with Disney stories and characters.
The companies plan around 10 projects spanning music, content, live entertainment and commerce, with a potential K-Culture Fund also being discussed.
Read more:… pic.twitter.com/98mNsWFE5I
— Planet of Films (@planetoffilms) September 16, 2026
The collaboration could extend beyond traditional music and screen content, with the companies identifying commerce and live entertainment as additional areas for potential projects.
“K-pop today has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon shaping trends across areas including fashion, beauty, and lifestyle,” Kakao Entertainment said. The company added that combining K-pop artists and music with Disney’s storytelling could create new worlds and experiences for fans worldwide.
The announcement did not identify specific K-pop artists, Disney franchises or individual projects.
The partnership comes amid growing international interest in K-pop-inspired entertainment. One notable example is ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ the animated musical produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released globally on Netflix, per Deadline.
The film follows rival K-pop groups who secretly lead double lives as demon hunters and became a major global pop-culture phenomenon, demonstrating the potential for K-pop music, characters and storytelling to reach audiences beyond the traditional music industry.
Disney Korea will collaborate with K-pop management companies like Kakao Entertainment, SM Entertainment, HYBE and Starship Entertainment to combine their artists’ unique worldviews with stories from Marvel to create new fan experiences. https://t.co/AA5x3Jck0l
— The Korea Times (@koreatimescokr) September 16, 2026
Disney has also established a significant presence in Korea through productions such as ‘Moving,’ its first Korean original series, as well as K-pop-focused films and documentaries featuring major artists.
What Is Kakao Entertainment?
Founded in 2021, Kakao Entertainment is the entertainment arm of South Korean technology giant Kakao Corp. The company operates across music, film, television, webtoons and other areas of the entertainment industry, MBW reported .
Its music businesses include labels such as Starship Entertainment, EDAM Entertainment and Antenna, while its broader portfolio includes Melon, KakaoPage and fandom platform Berriz.
Kakao Entertainment and Kakao Corp. collectively hold a 40.28% stake in SM Entertainment, home to K-pop acts including aespa, NCT 127 and RIIZE.
For now, Disney Korea and Kakao Entertainment have not revealed which franchises, artists or projects will form the foundation of their planned collaboration. The proposed K-Culture Fund also remains under discussion, leaving further details to be announced as the partnership develops.