Lee Jung Jae’s entertainment company, Artist Group, has successfully secured an investment of 18 billion KRW (around 13 million USD) from MBN and the Maekyung Media Group. This development has raised speculation that Artist Group could potentially become the next significant player in Korea's content production sphere, similar to "Studio Dragon".

The investment was finalized on April 21st, as confirmed by regulatory filings from Artist Group and Maekyung Media Group, solidifying their strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to target the global K-content market. With this funding, Artist Group now has access to stable financial support for production and intends to collaborate closely with MBN to establish an integrated system covering production, distribution, and broadcasting. This partnership between an entertainment agency and a media platform is anticipated to pave the way for the emergence of "MBN Studio," which could rival established players like Studio Dragon in the Korean content industry.

Their initial joint project, the drama "First Lady," scheduled to air on MBN in late 2025, is written by Kim Hyung Wan of Dream High 2 and features Eugene, Ji Hyun Woo, and Lee Min Young. The storyline revolves around a president requesting a divorce from his wife just as she is about to assume the role of First Lady.

Artist Group has ambitious plans to develop innovative content, leveraging the investment from MBN and Maekyung Media Group to strengthen their content production capabilities. They aim to introduce fresh trends in the K-content market, beginning with "First Lady."

As MBN Studio endeavors to produce globally competitive dramas, it is positioned to potentially disrupt the industry and establish itself among Korea's top content creators.

(Note: The content of the article has been effectively paraphrased to ensure originality and avoid plagiarism concerns.)