Cultural strengths of K-horror are being showcased worldwide by the production company COTAP Media's new omnibus horror thriller "Children's Ghost Story," which has been officially invited to the non-competitive institutional sector at the 2025 Canneseries. COTAP Media, which has consistently explored the horror genre for a long time, has once again demonstrated a new peak of K-horror with this work.
"Children's Ghost Story" (directed by Kim Gun, Lim Kyung-taek, and others) is an omnibus horror series based on the nursery rhymes most familiar to Koreans, unraveling the peculiar stories and psychology hidden below in a way that combines reality and fantasy. It modernly reinterprets the bizarre mysteries intertwined with lyrical melodies and showcases the unique emotion and aesthetics of K-horror on the global stage.
In particular, each episode captures attention with the intense performances of the actors. Hong Soo-hyun leaves a strong impression in the episode "It's the Same," while Nam Gyu-ri completes a character where fear and emotions coexist in "My Happy Home." Additionally, actor Choi Jong-nam, who appeared in "My Happy Home," perfectly embodied a middle-aged man with a bizarre atmosphere, earning a standing ovation at Cannes.
COTAP Media is a genre powerhouse that has steadily produced K-horror series, such as "School Ghost Story," "Kind Police," and "Midnight Horror: Six Nights," receiving acclaim both domestically and internationally. In particular, "School Ghost Story" achieved success by being pre-sold to overseas OTT platforms like VIU, airing in eight Southeast Asian countries, and leading the global expansion of K-horror.
The new work "Children's Ghost Story" has been officially recognized for its artistic quality and potential as a selected project for the "Domestic OTT Overseas Distribution Activation Support Project" organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission in 2024.
"Children's Ghost Story" was officially screened at 2 p.m. local time on April 29 at the Palais des Festivals, the central stage of the Cannes Festival, garnering full-house sales and high interest from local media and audiences. During the stage greeting and interviews held on the same day, the cast excitedly shared behind-the-scenes details of the production and the charm of K-horror.
On April 30, actors Hong Soo-hyun, Nam Gyu-ri, Choi Jong-nam, and Han Da-ni attended the pink carpet event, showcasing "Children's Ghost Story" to the world and demonstrating their strong presence. Local media hinted at the popularity and success of COTAP Media and "Children's Ghost Story" with the phrase "a new wave of K-horror."
COTAP Media Chairman Ko Dae-hwa noted, "We will continue to refine the unique color of K-horror based on the distinct emotions and narrative structures of Korea, continuously presenting content that attracts attention in the global market."
"Children's Ghost Story" is set to air domestically and is expected to collaborate with global OTT platforms based on the response in Cannes.
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