Sony's Crunchyroll launches official anime streaming service in South Korea
In short
Crunchyroll, the Sony Group anime streaming platform, began official service in South Korea on October 8 with Korean subtitles and two monthly plans: Fan at 9,900 won and Mega Fan at 10,900 won. The company said it will release more than 20 new titles and hold its first Crunchyroll Pop-Up Festival in Seoul at the end of October.
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Crunchyroll, the anime streaming platform owned by Sony Group, officially launched its service in South Korea on October 8, the company said. Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo and Yonhap described it as the world's largest anime streaming service. The company said the Korean service comes with Korean subtitles and a user environment for Korean fans, and that it will release more than 20 new titles. Yonhap and Gamemeca said the new titles would come this autumn, while Hankook Ilbo said they would arrive within the year; Gamemeca reported that the lineup will be announced soon. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Subscriptions come in two plans: Fan at 9,900 won a month and Mega Fan at 10,900 won a month. Mega Fan subscribers can watch offline and stream on up to four devices at the same time, and according to Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo they also get access to more than 100 games. Hankook Ilbo reported that the service can be watched on mobile devices, internet-connected smart TVs, home game consoles and computers. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Titles available now include One-Punch Man, Tower of God, Fire Force and True Beauty, as well as the films Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1. Gamemeca reported that the service also streams anime based on games, such as Sekiro: No Defeat. Hankook Ilbo reported that Crunchyroll has been designated a self-rating operator by the Korea Media Rating Board, allowing it to classify its own titles. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Crunchyroll said it will hold a Crunchyroll Pop-Up Festival in Seoul at the end of October, with special anime screenings, concerts and spaces for merchandise and games; Chosun Ilbo and Gamemeca said it will be the first such festival. Akshat Sahu, Crunchyroll's head for Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, said Korean fans are highly passionate and engaged with anime and called the Korean launch an important first step. He said the company will expand its content and keep investing in localisation, and according to Chosun Ilbo, Gamemeca and Hankook Ilbo he also mentioned more simulcasts and experiential events. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
According to Hankook Ilbo, Crunchyroll has more than 20 million paying users worldwide. The paper reported that the company was founded in the United States in 2006 and acquired in 2021 by a joint venture of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music in Japan. It said viewing in Korea had been restricted by rights issues before the official launch. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
Hankook Ilbo reported that viewing the service in Korea had been restricted by rights issues, and that with the official launch Korean users can now watch its anime with Korean subtitles. The launch adds an anime-focused subscription service to the Korean streaming market, and the company says it will keep adding titles and localising the service.
Key facts
- Crunchyroll, an anime streaming platform under Sony Group, officially launched its service in South Korea on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Korean service offers Korean subtitles, and the company said it would release more than 20 new titles. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- There are two monthly plans: Fan at 9,900 won and Mega Fan at 10,900 won. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Mega Fan subscribers get offline viewing and streaming on up to four devices at once. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo report that Mega Fan also includes access to more than 100 games. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Titles available at launch include One-Punch Man, Tower of God, Fire Force, True Beauty, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Crunchyroll plans to hold a Crunchyroll Pop-Up Festival in Seoul at the end of October, with special screenings, concerts and games. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported that Crunchyroll has more than 20 million paying users worldwide. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Crunchyroll began official service in South Korea on October 8. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Fan plan costs 9,900 won a month and the Mega Fan plan 10,900 won a month. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Mega Fan includes offline viewing and simultaneous streaming on up to four devices. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- A Crunchyroll Pop-Up Festival will be held in Seoul at the end of October. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Akshat Sahu, Crunchyroll's head for Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, said the company will keep investing in localisation of the service. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- When the more than 20 new titles will be released. Gamemeca and Yonhap say this autumn, Hankook Ilbo says within the year, and Gamemeca says the lineup has not yet been announced.
- The exact date of the Seoul pop-up festival. The documents say only the end of October.
- Crunchyroll's worldwide paid user count of more than 20 million. Reported only by Hankook Ilbo.
- Crunchyroll's designation as a self-rating operator by the Korea Media Rating Board. Reported only by Hankook Ilbo.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo reports that Crunchyroll has officially launched in South Korea. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Gamemeca reports the launch, the content lineup and the Seoul pop-up festival. [ 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the launch with details of pricing, devices and company history. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reports the launch of Crunchyroll's official Korean service. [ 5 ]