Daewon Media

Daewon Media is a South Korean media and entertainment company whose business has developed around animation, comics, character properties, and Japanese and Korean popular culture. Established in 1973 as One Production, the company initially built technical expertise through animation production and overseas production-assistance work. Its early relationship with Toei Animation connected it to major Japanese animated productions and helped establish Daewon as a significant Korean animation production partner. The company subsequently expanded from outsourced production into domestic theatrical and television animation, animation importing and exporting, publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and video games. The company adopted the name Daiwon C&A Holdings in 2000 and was listed on the KOSDAQ stock market in 2001. The same period saw the launch of Daewon Digital Broadcasting and Anione TV, giving the group a direct television distribution platform for domestic and imported animation. Daewon later created or supported additional broadcasting operations, including AniBox and Champ TV. These channels have carried Korean animation, Japanese animation, tokusatsu programming, and internationally licensed properties. Broadcasting has therefore complemented the company’s production, licensing, and publishing activities rather than functioning as a separate standalone business. Publishing became an important part of the group through Daewon C.I., founded in 1991, and Haksan Publishing, founded in 1995. These businesses publish Korean and translated comics, light novels, children’s books, and related periodicals. Daewon’s licensing portfolio has included prominent Japanese properties such as One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan, Digimon, and other animation and character franchises. The company has also participated in the distribution of localized gaming hardware and software, including Nintendo products, and has operated businesses concerned with online comics, animation services, and other digital entertainment. Daewon has also pursued original and co-produced animation. Its domestic productions include television projects such as Wandering Gatchi, Vectormen, Warrior of the Earth, Eon Kid, Magi-Nation, and Noonbory and the Super 7. The 2004 theatrical release Blade of the Phantom Master was produced through cooperation involving Daewon, South Korean studio Character Plan, and Japanese studio OLM, and was described as the first animated feature jointly produced by South Korea and Japan. Other original or locally developed projects helped the company build experience in children’s and family entertainment while creating properties suitable for international licensing. The group’s character and merchandising activities have operated through businesses associated with Aniland and its character business operations. These activities cover licensing domestic characters, distributing imported character merchandise, and developing goods based on animation franchises. Daewon has also held an exclusive merchandising arrangement for Studio Ghibli goods in South Korea and has handled products related to properties including Naruto, One Piece, and Gundam. In 2007, the company changed its name to Daewon Media, reflecting a broader identity beyond its earlier animation and content-production designation. Its later activities have continued to combine content creation, publishing, broadcasting, licensing, merchandising, gaming, and digital distribution. According to the supplied reference material, Jung Wook serves as chair and co-chief executive officer, while Ahn Hyeon-dong serves as president and co-chief executive officer. Daewon Media’s present brand position is that of a diversified Korean intellectual-property and animation company operating across the content value chain, from production and acquisition to localization, channel distribution, publishing, and consumer products.

Daewon Media began in South Korea in 1973 under the name One Production. The company changed its name to Daiwon Productions in 1974 and formed Daiwon Animation in 1977. Its early growth was closely linked to international production work: in 1977, Daiwon entered an OEM arrangement with Japan's Toei Animation and provided technical assistance on approximately 80 productions, including Galaxy Express 999 and Candy Candy. It later signed similar arrangements with United States animation companies, including Hanna-Barbera, in 1985 and 1986. During the 1980s, Daewon developed domestic animation capabilities. It released ten theatrical animated films in 1982 and produced television work connected to major Korean broadcasters. Run, Hodori was created for Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation to promote the 1988 Summer Olympics. In 1987, Daewon and the Korean Broadcasting System produced Wandering Gatchi, described in the reference material as South Korea's first domestic television animation, alongside thirteen other series. In 1989, the company established a Character Business Division to license foreign properties for the Korean market. Daewon entered comics publishing and distribution in 1991 through the founding of Daewon C.I., which published domestic and imported comics magazines and book imprints. It also began importing foreign films that year. Haksan Publishing was established in 1995 and expanded the group's publishing presence into comics, light novels, children's books, and related animation publications. Daewon's animation work received recognition during the 1990s: The Earth is a Green Planet won a bronze medal at the New York Film Festival in 1993, while Red Hawk received the Gold Prize at the Korean Film & Animation Awards in 1995. In 1997, Daewon produced Vectormen, Warrior of the Earth, identified in the supplied material as South Korea's first television SFX animation. The business adopted the name Daiwon C&A Holdings in 2000 and entered the KOSDAQ market in 2001. That year it launched Daewon Digital Broadcasting and Anione TV, an animation channel backed in part by Japanese investors. Broadcasting subsequently became a major part of the group’s structure. Daewon Broadcasting operated Anione TV, AniBox, and Champ TV, carrying domestic and imported animation as well as selected live-action tokusatsu programming. Licensing and cross-media expansion accelerated in the early 2000s. In 2003, Daewon licensed Korean television and comics distribution rights associated with One Piece and Yu-Gi-Oh!. It also joined Korean studio Character Plan and Japanese studio OLM in producing Blade of the Phantom Master, a theatrical adaptation of a Korean comic. Released in 2004, the film represented a significant South Korean-Japanese animation collaboration and later reached several overseas markets. A 2003 agreement with Nintendo to distribute localized gaming hardware and software led to the creation of Game Champ. Daewon also reached agreements involving Bandai's Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game and a Konami online game arrangement. In 2005, Daewon and CJ Media formed Champ Vision, a joint venture that launched Champ TV. The channel included a Jetix programming block. Daewon received a major Korean digital-content award in 2006 for Donggle Donggle Jjak Jjak. In 2007, Daiwon C&A Holdings changed its name to Daewon Media, reflecting the breadth of its operations. Its properties Eon Kid and Magi-Nation were broadcast by Kids' WB in the United States. In 2008, the company announced worldwide rights to develop and distribute an animated television version of Gon. In 2009, it launched the preschool series Noonbory and the Super 7 through EBS in South Korea and CBS Kids in the United States. Daewon Media's business has continued to span content production, television broadcasting, publishing, licensing, merchandising, gaming, and digital entertainment. Its subsidiaries and affiliated businesses have included Daewon C.I., Haksan Publishing, Daewon Broadcasting, Daewon Digital Entertainment, Game Champ, and character-merchandising operations associated with Aniland. The group’s model links intellectual-property acquisition and localization with consumer products and distribution platforms. The supplied reference identifies Jung Wook as chair and co-CEO and Ahn Hyeon-dong as president and co-CEO.

• 2007

  Company adopts the Daewon Media name

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Daiwon C&A Holdings changed its name to Daewon Media.

• 2004

  Blade of the Phantom Master is released

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The South Korean-Japanese animated feature collaboration was released and subsequently distributed internationally.

• 2001

  KOSDAQ listing and animation-channel launch

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company registered on KOSDAQ and launched Daewon Digital Broadcasting and Anione TV.

• 2000

  Name changes to Daiwon C&A Holdings

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the Daiwon C&A Holdings name.

• 1997

  Vectormen is produced

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Daewon produced Vectormen, Warrior of the Earth, identified in the reference as Korea's first television SFX animation.

• 1991

  Daewon enters comics publishing

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Daewon founded Daewon C.I. and expanded into comics publishing, distribution, and foreign-film importing.

• 1987

  Wandering Gatchi is produced

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Daewon and the Korean Broadcasting System produced Wandering Gatchi, described as Korea's first domestic television animation.

• 1977

  Daiwon Animation is formed

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company created Daiwon Animation and entered an OEM technical-assistance relationship with Toei Animation.

• 1973

  Company founded as One Production

  [1]Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Daewon Media was established in South Korea under the name One Production.

A diversified South Korean animation and intellectual-property company that combines original production with international licensing, comics publishing, specialist television channels, character merchandising, and gaming distribution.

• Comics publishing · 1991

  Daewon C.I.

  Founded in 1991, Daewon C.I. publishes Korean and translated comics, magazines, book imprints, localized Japanese animation-related publications, DVDs, and light novels. It represents the group's principal comics-publishing arm and connects imported properties with Korean readers through translation, editorial production, and local distribution.

• Comics and children's publishing · 1995

  Haksan Publishing

  Haksan Publishing, established in 1995, produces and distributes domestic and imported comics, light novels, children's books, and television-animation-related publications. Its catalog broadens Daewon's publishing activities beyond comics magazines into book formats and youth-oriented entertainment content.

• Animation television channel · 2001

  Anione TV

  Anione TV is an animation-focused television service launched by Daewon Digital Broadcasting in 2001. It operates through cable and satellite distribution and has carried Korean and imported animated programming, including licensed Japanese properties.

• Animation television channel

  AniBox

  AniBox is one of Daewon Broadcasting's specialist television channels. Its programming focus is animation, supplemented by selected related entertainment and imported content.

• Animation television channel · 2005

  Champ TV

  Champ TV was launched in 2005 by Champ Vision, a joint venture between Daewon and CJ Media. The channel carried animation programming and hosted a Jetix block, extending Daewon's role from content production and licensing into dedicated television distribution.

• Animated television series

  Eon Kid

  Eon Kid is a Daewon-associated animated production that received international exposure through broadcast by Kids' WB in the United States. It illustrates the company's strategy of developing Korean animation with potential for overseas distribution and licensing.

• Animated television series

  Magi-Nation

  Magi-Nation is an animated series associated with Daewon's production and international distribution activities. The program was among the company's domestic productions broadcast by Kids' WB in the United States.

• Preschool animated television series · 2009

  Noonbory and the Super 7

  Noonbory and the Super 7 is a preschool animation project launched through EBS in South Korea and the CBS Kids block in the United States. Its distribution reflects Daewon's focus on children's programming and international licensing.

• Theatrical animated film · 2004

  Blade of the Phantom Master

  Blade of the Phantom Master is a theatrical animated adaptation of a Korean comic produced through cooperation between Daewon, South Korean studio Character Plan, and Japanese studio OLM. Released in 2004, it was distributed in several countries, including the United States.

• Consumer products

  Character licensing and merchandise

  Daewon's character business, associated with Aniland, licenses domestic characters, imports merchandise based on foreign properties, and develops consumer goods. Its activities have included Studio Ghibli goods and products connected with Naruto, One Piece, Gundam, and other Japanese animation franchises.

• 2007

  Rebrand as Daewon MediaStrategy

  Background

  The group had become a diversified media company spanning animation, publishing, broadcasting, licensing, merchandising, and gaming.

  Action taken

  Daiwon C&A Holdings changed its name to Daewon Media.

  Aftermath

  The Daewon Media name became the umbrella identity for the group's broader media and intellectual-property activities.

  Source

• 2005

  Create the Champ Vision broadcasting joint ventureM&A

  Background

  Daewon was expanding its specialist television presence and sought a broader channel partnership.

  Action taken

  Daewon and CJ Media formed Champ Vision, which launched Champ TV and hosted a Jetix programming block.

  Aftermath

  The joint venture added another dedicated channel to Daewon's animation broadcasting activities.

  Source

• 2003

  Expand into localized video-game distributionStrategy

  Background

  Daewon's licensing and localization activities created an opportunity to distribute interactive entertainment alongside comics and animation.

  Action taken

  It agreed with Nintendo to distribute localized gaming hardware and software and established Game Champ as a subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  The move added gaming hardware and software to Daewon's broader cross-media portfolio.

  Source

• 2001

  Launch dedicated animation broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  Daewon sought to extend its role from production and licensing into direct television distribution.

  Action taken

  The company launched Daewon Digital Broadcasting and Anione TV with funding participation from Japanese investors.

  Aftermath

  Broadcasting became a recurring part of Daewon's integrated animation and character-content business.

  Source

• 2000

  Adopt the Daiwon C&A Holdings nameStrategy

  Background

  The company had expanded beyond animation production into publishing, licensing, broadcasting, and related entertainment activities.

  Action taken

  It changed its corporate name from its earlier Daiwon identity to Daiwon C&A Holdings.

  Aftermath

  The company subsequently listed on KOSDAQ and continued expanding its content and distribution operations.

  Source

1. 1Daewon Mediaen.wikipedia.org