CJ ENM selects 22 rising writers and composers as O’PEN marks its 10th anniversary and expands support for transmedia IP and global growth
At a Glance
- A total of 22 rising creators selected, including 12 writers for O’PEN Storyteller (10th cohort) and 10 composers for O’PEN Music (8th cohort).
- Provides grants of KRW 10 million for each writer and KRW 5 million for each composer, alongside comprehensive incubator programs.
- Marking its 10th anniversary, O’PEN strengthens transmedia IP strategies across webtoons and films, alongside drama lineups on tvN and TVING.
- O’PEN alumni continue to drive global K-content success with hit titles including “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and “Weak Hero Class 2.”
CJ ENM announced on May 21 that it held a joint launch ceremony for the 10th cohort of O’PEN Storyteller and the 8th cohort of O’PEN Music at the O’PEN Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul, on May 20, officially kicking off the full-scale development of 22 next-generation K-content creators.
■ What is O’PEN?
O’PEN is CJ ENM’s flagship talent development platform that connects rising creators with the entertainment industry by providing full-cycle support—from content planning and development to production, programming and business matching. Launched in 2017 with the Storyteller division for scriptwriters, the program expanded to include the Music division for composers in 2018. Over the past decade, O’PEN has successfully discovered and nurtured a total of 276 writers and 115 composers.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, O’PEN is set to reinforce its transmedia strategy, expanding its intellectual property (IP) across diverse genres and platforms, including webtoons, television series and films. Furthermore, the program plans to lay a solid foundation for selected creators to thrive on the global stage by expanding comprehensive support for international market expansion.
■ 2026 Program Summary
| Division | Cohort | Selected Creators | Key Benefits | Industry-Linked Programs |
| O’PEN Storyteller | 10th | 12 (Dramas/Films) | Grant of KRW 10 million, individual writing studio, mentorship from active writers/directors, special lectures | Broadcast & production support for tvN/TVING dramas, business matching with major production companies |
| O’PEN Music | 8th | 10 (Songwriters/ Composers) | Grant of KRW 5 million, music industry lectures/practicals, expert mentorship | Artist track & OST demo pitching, business matching in Korea and internationally, song camps |
■ Major Achievements and Global Awards of O’PEN Alumni
Over the past decade, O’PEN has established itself as a premier launchpad for fresh creative talent, consistently producing numerous hit titles and elevating newly discovered creators into leading figures within the global content industry.
- Major Hits (Storyteller): “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” (Shin Ha-eun·1st Cohort), “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” (Park Ba-ra·3rd Cohort), “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” (Park Kyung-hwa·5th Cohort), “Weak Hero Class 2” (Park Hyun-woo·2nd Cohort), “Way Back Love” (Song Hyun-ju·3rd Cohort)
- Upcoming 2026 Project Lineup: “Bloody Flower” (Go Jun-seok·3rd Cohort) on Disney+; “Seiren’s Kiss” (Lee Young·1st Cohort) on tvN; “The Absolute Value of Romance” (Lee Min-ju·5th Cohort) on Coupang Play; “My Bias, My Boss” (Lee Young·1st Cohort & Kim Ji-an·4th Cohort) on tvN; and “Gift” (Min Jung·2nd Cohort).
- Major Hits (Music): Continual participation in producing core original soundtracks (OSTs) for hit television series—including tvN’s “Spring Fever,” “Seiren’s Kiss” and “Yumi’s Cells 3”—alongside sustained collaborations with major mainstream artists.
- Key Partnership with Mentor Choi Baek-ho: Participating in the overall production and arrangement for iconic singer Choi Baek-ho’s 50th anniversary album, following a successful credit on his 2022 release “Moment.”
- International Award Highlights:
- 59th WorldFest-Houston Film Festival (2026): Special Jury, Platinum and Gold Remi Awards won by three O’PEN titles (“Hosu : the lake I once knew,” “Mission: The Birthday Invitation” and “Housekeeper”).
- Seoul International Drama Awards: Won Best TV Movie for two consecutive years (2024–2025), proving O’PEN’s world-class competitive edge.
■ Official Statement from CJ ENM
“Marking its 10th anniversary, O’PEN has firmly established itself as a premier talent development platform that accompanies rising creators through every stage—from discovery and debut to industry networking,” said Namgoong Jong, Head of the O’PEN Team at CJ ENM. “Moving forward, we will continue to provide unwavering support to ensure that our next-generation creators can actively thrive and make their mark on the global content landscape.”
■ FAQ
Q. What is O’PEN?
A. O’PEN is CJ ENM’s flagship creative talent incubator. It serves as a premier development platform that discovers rising storytellers and composers, providing comprehensive, end-to-end support throughout the entire creative lifecycle—from initial planning and development to production, broadcasting and industry business matching.
Q. What is the cumulative scale of rising creators discovered by O’PEN over the past decade?
A. Over the last 10 years, O’PEN has continuously fostered key drivers of the K-content industry, producing a cumulative total of 276 storytellers (writers) and 115 composers.
Q. What are the key benefits provided to the 10th cohort of O’PEN Storyteller selected for 2026?
A. The 12 selected writers will each receive a creative grant of KRW 10 million, an individual writing studio and professional mentorship from active industry experts. Furthermore, a selection of the winning scripts will be produced and broadcast as part of the drama lineups on tvN and TVING.
Q. What kind of program support is provided to the 8th cohort of O’PEN Music creators?
A. The 10 selected songwriters and composers will each receive a creative grant of KRW 5 million. Additionally, they will benefit from practical, field-oriented programs, including demo pitching opportunities for mainstream artist tracks and drama OSTs, as well as collaborative song camps.
Q. What are the major hits produced by O’PEN alumni?
A. Representative titles include “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon”, alongside recent hit series like “Weak Hero Class 2” and “Way Back Love”.
Q. What is the future business direction for O’PEN as it marks its 10th anniversary this year?
A. O’PEN plans to strengthen its transmedia strategy by expanding intellectual property (IP) across diverse platforms, while further scaling up support for creators to expand their reach into the global market.
■ [Official O’PEN Channel]
- Official Website: https://open.cjenm.com/ko/openis/
- Organized & Operated by: CJ ENM O’PEN Team
- Reference Link (Previous Press Release):
- [Competition] CJ ENM Hosts 2026 O’PEN 10th Anniversary Competition to Discover Next-Gen K-Content Storytellers
- [Achievements] O’PEN Creators Drive a Virtuous Cycle in K-Content with Consecutive Global Awards
- [Launch] CJ ENM Accelerates Talent Discovery with the Official Launch of the New O’PEN Cohort
- [Awards] Five ‘O’PENing’ Titles Sweep Remi Awards at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
