Asia Col

• South Korean stocks experienced a severe collapse, with the benchmark Kospi index plunging more than 12 per cent at one point. • The crash was driven by a broader rout in Asian technology stocks, reflecting heightened volatility in the regional tech sector. • This sharp decline highlights the vulnerability of South Korea's export-heavy economy to global shifts in semiconductor and tech valuations.

• INCUBASE Studio has launched GochaGocha, a smart photo card machine platform developed by its subsidiary INCUTix, to expand its IP entertainment ecosystem. • The service is making its Asia debut with installations across 23 locations in Hong Kong, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur as of July 8, 2026. • This initiative aims to accelerate the collectible entertainment market by integrating physical photo cards with smart technology and intellectual property.

• V47 Entertainment and COL Group have partnered through VIRTUE Asia to develop brand-funded microdramas and vertical entertainment across Southeast Asia. • The collaboration targets key ASEAN markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. • This initiative leverages COL Group's expertise in the microdrama format and its FlareFlow platform, which currently serves 33 million registered users globally.

• V47 Entertainment, via its agency VIRTUE Asia, announced a partnership with COL Group on June 17, 2026, to expand microdrama and vertical-first entertainment in South East Asia. • The collaboration aims to provide brands with increased access to short-form storytelling, leveraging COL Group's expertise as a pioneer in the vertical video format. • This move matters as it allows brands to engage audiences through a rapidly growing medium of bite-sized, mobile-centric content tailored for the regional market.

• The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) 2026 will take place from July 3 to 11, 2026, celebrating its 25th edition with a strong focus on Asian genre cinema. • The festival will feature new works by prominent Asian directors such as Yeon Sang-ho, Joko Anwar, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa, showcasing films like "Colony", "The Furious", and "Sleep No More". • NIFFF highlights films from various Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, and the Philippines, demonstrating its commitment to promoting international genre cinema.

• VIRTUE Asia has partnered with Chinese digital entertainment firm COL Group to expand brand access to microdramas and short-form entertainment across Southeast Asia. • The collaboration leverages VIRTUE Asia's creative expertise and COL Group's distribution capabilities to offer brands new entertainment-led storytelling opportunities. • This initiative specifically targets key regional markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.