Netflix Says 67% of Surveyed Members Want to Visit Korea as Busan’s Creative Asia Puts Locations in Focus

Netflix research found that 67% of surveyed members internationally expressed interest in visiting South Korea. For the streamer’s Sung Q Lee, the pull lies in the stories set there, rather than the scenery alone.

Lee, Netflix’s senior director of APAC production, made the case at the opening masterclass of Creative Asia, which Netflix and the 31st Busan International Film Festival brought back for a third consecutive year on Oct. 10.

Held at Dongseo University’s Centum Campus, the program was developed with the Asian Film Commissions Network and the Motion Picture Association. This year’s edition added workshops led by Netflix executives alongside masterclasses and industry panels.

Moderated by Busan Asian Film School professor James Bang, the opening session, on how locations shape storytelling, also featured location manager Lauren Cooper and “Perfect Days” co-producer Kunieda Reiko.

Cooper said she first reads a script as an audience member before considering its demands as a location manager, and works closely with the production designer. “Filmmaking is like a team sport,” she said. “You need great flexibility to work with the crew and the story.”

Kunieda quoted Wim Wenders: “The artifice of a story can ruin a film.” The director resists imposing predetermined themes or concepts, she said. On “Perfect Days,” which was shot in 16 days, the story was allowed to develop organically from its locations.

“Location and storytelling are not separable,” Kunieda said, describing production’s role in translating creative ambitions into filmmaking.

Citing the Jeju-set “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” he said universal emotions connect audiences to unfamiliar places.