French startup Kyool brings short-form Korean dramas to Europe

Two French entrepreneurs have launched Kyool, a mobile-first streaming app featuring short-form Korean dramas and cultural programming for European audiences, The Korea Times reported.

The platform targets viewers who discovered Korean content on mainstream streaming services and want deeper, curated access to Korean entertainment beyond what algorithm-driven social media feeds can offer.

Founders Christophe Diez and Jeanne Dubresson developed the app at Pangyo Techno Valley in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and released it on Google Play and the Apple App Store, according to The Korea Times. The launch coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea.

Diez said Kyool is designed to stand apart from social media platforms. "Those platforms are largely driven by algorithms and endless scrolling. Kyool focuses on storytelling. Even though the episodes are short, they are part of structured narratives with characters and emotional arcs," he said.

Kyool's current programming includes "Real DM," a dating show in which contestants have three seconds to decide whether to proceed to a 30-minute speed date. The app also features behind-the-scenes content and interviews with figures from the Korean entertainment industry.

Both founders have deep ties to Korean media. Diez worked in television production since the late 1990s, with credits including collaborations with TF1, Canal+ and Eurosport. Dubresson, who first visited Korea for a photography internship, learned the language by watching Korean TV shows. "I had always been fascinated by Asia and wanted to travel there since I was young," she told The Korea Times.

Kyool grew out of an earlier venture called KFTV, a web platform the pair created to introduce Korean television to French audiences. To develop its streaming infrastructure, Kyool partnered with Code Crayon, the operator of Shortime, an existing short-form drama service. "Our company focuses on exporting Korean content to Europe and explaining Korean media and production culture to audiences who are interested in Korea," Diez said.

The founders said they plan to expand Kyool beyond Europe to Africa and the Americas and eventually develop original productions combining Korean and European creative perspectives. "Our vision is for Kyool to become more than just a streaming platform. We want it to be a place where people who love Korean culture can exchange ideas and even create their own stories," Diez said.