For this week's Industry Insight,... we take a look at Korea's animated character market.<br />The industry has made huge strides forward in recent years.<br />Arirang's Kim Min-ji tells us exactly where Korea stands... and also about what it can do to reach the next level.<br /><br />This 90-second cartoon featuring two larvae and their quirky adventures inside a drain... is entertaining enough to attract viewers, both young and old, even without dialogue.<br />Created by Tuba Entertainment in 2011,... "Larva" is now broadcast in over 100 countries and has been made into more than a thousand products.<br /><br />"From the early stages of development, we focused on multi-nationalization. Body language is somewhat universal,... so we could easily create a sensation across different markets."<br /><br />But it's just one of few... success stories.<br />Korea has a relatively short history in the character business... and lacks infrastructure and global networks.<br />On top of this, there's still a deep-rooted perception that cartoon characters are just for kids.<br /><br />"Disney's Frozen is an example of an animation that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Korean characters need to target people of all ages as a larger consumer base will boost the market."<br /><br />So where does Korea's industry stand?<br /><br />"The local character market has grown more than 60 percent in the last five years... and it's expected to top 8 billion U.S. dollars this year. But despite the exponential growth, it makes up less than five percent of the global market."<br /><br />Analysts say the government needs to open communication channels for local companies to connect with distributors and licensors from around the world.<br />Case in point -- the culture ministry plans to invest 350 million U.S. dollars into the character and animation industries over the next five years.<br /><br />"From the fostering of artists to facilitating production and exports, we plan to provide companies with comprehensive assistance."<br /><br />Roi Visual,... creator of hit animated TV show "Robocar Poli,"... says t
