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Webtoon-Based Live-Action Taxi Driver Series Confirms Season 3
Main cast reunites for series about secretive taxi company that enacts vigilante justice
― The live-action Taxi Driver series is set to return for its third season later this year. Following the success of its previous seasons, Taxi Driver 3 has officially been scheduled for a late 2025 release, bringing back its signature blend of thrilling action and vigilante justice. Based on the webtoon of the ...
KOMACON Report: Number of Webtoon Titles Dropped by Nearly 7% in 2024
57.7% of registered webtoons were categorized as "18+ content"
― According to the 2024 Comics and Webtoon Distribution Statistics Report published by the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) on March 12, the total number of webtoon titles registered last year was 18,792, marking a 6.7% decline from the previous year's 20,141. By platform, KakaoPage, a flagship platform of Kakao Entertainment, saw ...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Thriller Series Field Mouse Confirms Cast
Jun-yeol Ryu, Kyung-gu Sol to star series
― According to Korean entertainment media outlet TV Report, actors Jun-yeol Ryu and Kyung-gu Sol will team up for the first time in the upcoming live-action series Field Mouse. Originally serialized from 2017 to 2020 by webtoon artist Ludovico, Field Mouse is inspired by the Korean folktale "The Rate That Ate Fingernails," which tells the story of a rat that...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action My Dearest Nemesis Show Stays at #1 on Rakuten Viki
Series tops charts in 118 countries, territories in 3rd week
― According to the streaming platform Rakuten Viki, the live-action My Dearest Nemesis series ranked No. 1 in viewership across more than 130 countries during its first week of streaming. The series maintained its top position in 118 countries and territories — including the United States, Brazil, Mexico, France, and India — in its third w...
BTS Singer Jin Hosts Variety Show With Webtoon Artist Kian, Comedian Ye-eun Ji
Series following 3 people as they operate B&B on Ulleungdo island debuts on Netflix on April 8
― On March 12, Netflix released a minute-long teaser for Kian's Bizarre B&B, an unscripted variety show featuring webtoon artist/entertainer Kian, BTS member Jin, and SNL Korea comedian Ye-eun Ji. The series follows the three as they operate a bed-and-breakfast on Ulleungdo island, navigating the challenge...
7 Major Webtoon Firms Demand Maximum Penalty for 'OKToon' Pirate Site Operator
Illegal webtoon site caused US$37 million in losses according to companies
― Seven major webtoon companies — Kakao Entertainment, Naver Webtoon, Ridi, Lezhin Entertainment, Kidari Studio, Toptoon, and Toomics — have come together to call for strict legal action against the operator of the illegal webtoon site OKToon. The Webtoon Anti-Piracy Coalition, which represents these companies, submitted a pe...
Exclusive: Dark Horse Books to Release Purgatory Funeral Cakes Manhwa in Fall
Manhwa following baker, ghost assistant baking funeral cakes
― Dark Horse Books announced on Thursday that it has licensed Sanho's Purgatory Funeral Cakes manhwa. The company will release the first volume in English on November 18 in bookstores and November 19 in comic shops. Danny Lim is the translator, and Michael Heisler is the letterer. The 224-page paperback first volume is available for preorde...
Secret Relationship Webtoon Sees Surge in Viewership/Revenue Following Live-Action Series Premiere
Viewership in N. America grew by 12 times
― Kakao Entertainment announced on March 10 that the viewership and revenue of its webtoon Secret Relationship has significantly increased following the release of its live-action drama adaptation on February 27. According to Kakao Entertainment, within one week of the drama's premiere, the webtoon's views on Kakao Page and Kakao Webtoon in South Korea increa...
Get Schooled Webtoon Gets Live-Action Adaptation
Mu-yeol Kim leads series as main actor
― Webtoon company YLAB has confirmed that its Get Schooled webtoon get a Netflix Original series adaptation. The series is slated for release next year, as part of YLAB's strategy to expand its global footprint through Netflix. YLAB Plex and GTist are co-producing the live-action adaptation with actor Mu-yeol Kim as Na Hwa-jin. The cast also includes Ki-joo Jin,...
Jisoo of Blackpink to Star as Webtoon Producer in New Boyfriend on Demand Netflix Series
Seo In-guk will co-star in series about virtual reality
― Netflix announced last month the production of the tentatively titled Boyfriend on Demand, a new romantic comedy series starring Jisoo of Black Pink and Seo In-guk. The series will stream exclusively on Netflix. Jisoo will star as Mi-rae, an overworked webtoon producer who escapes her exhausting reality through a subscription-based virtual dat...
K-Pop Boy Band BOYNEXTDOOR to Release Single for Webtoon Odd Girl Out
Odd Girl Out has been serialized since 2015
― The K-pop boy band BOYNEXTDOOR has collaborated with the webtoon series Odd Girl Out for the single "Never Loved This Way Before." The track is set to be released on March 14 at 6:00 p.m. KST (5:00 a.m. EDT). Odd Girl Out, serialized since 2015, explores the lives of teenage girls navigating the complexities of friendship, love, and personal growth. The ...
Naver Webtoon Continues Sponsoring 'Hyun-se Lee Cartoon Creation Camp' for Aspiring Creators
Outstanding works may be serialized via Naver Webtoon
― Naver Webtoon announced on March 4 that it will once again officially sponsor the "Hyun-se Lee Cartoon Creation Camp" this year, continuing its support for aspiring webtoon creators. The camp was first launched in 2001 by Doo-ho Lee, a professor at Sejong University at the time, as a so-called "hell camp" designed to immerse students completely...
Rakuten Viki Announces New K-Drama My Girlfriend is The Man! Based on Webtoon
Members of K-pop idol groups will star in adaptation
― Rakuten Viki announced on Friday My Girlfriend is The Man!, a new K-drama series co-produced with Korean production company Studio N. The series, based on a webtoon with over 379 million views, will debut exclusively on Viki later this year. The announcement comes as Viki celebrates reaching 100 million registered users. The series stars K-pop i...
Se-young Lee to Star in Live-Action Adaptation of The Remarried Empress Novel/Webtoon
Se-young Lee will portray runaway slave Rashta Isqua
― Korean broadcasting studio JTBC reported on March 6 that Se-young Lee is set to star in the live-action adaptation of the popular web novel/webtoon The Remarried Empress. Regarding the news, Se-young Lee's agency Prain TPC stated that it is “one of the projects she has received.” In the series, Se-young Lee will portray Rashta Isqua, a runaway sl...
Wattpad Webtoon Studios Hires Mar Vila Barcelo to Lead European Expansion
Studio aims to expand in Spanish-speaking market
― Wattpad Webtoon Studios has appointed Mar Vila Barcelo to lead its European operations. Based in Madrid, Barcelo will oversee the studio's international film and TV projects in the region and report to David Madden, Head of Global Entertainment. Barcelo was previously Development Executive at ITV Studios Iberia, where she managed the development of f...
Mobile Game Based on +99 Reinforced Wooden Stick Webtoon Debuts at #1 in Korea
Players control 3 main characters in hack-and-slash style combat
― Daeri Soft's new mobile RPG +99 Reinforced Wooden Stick: Growth has taken the top spot on Google Play Store's popularity chart in Korea following its official release on February 5. The game's success was fueled by pre-release promotions and high anticipation among webtoon fans, leading it to top the Google Store's popularity chart j...
Ridi's Subsidiary Prodifi Launches AI-Powered Webtoon Localization Tool
Prodifi claims tool can reduce time, cost of localization by up to 90%
― Prodifi, a subsidiary of content platform company Ridi, announced on Wednesday the launch of its new AI-powered tool designed to simplify the complex process of webtoon localization. Ridi is the parent company of the webtoon platform Manta. The new tool utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up translation while consider...
Getting Started with K-Comics - Tapas
Whether you want to catch up on Doctor Elise, find love in a zombie outbreak, or support characters making bad decisions, you can find your next read on Tapas!
― Webtoons have exploded in popularity over the past few years, which means there are many sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. So we thought it might be helpful to give you a place to start, especially since m...
Live-Action Film of Webtoon 'Somebody' to Open in Korea on March 12
K-pop girl group Girls' Generation member Yuri headlines film
― Somebody, the film based on the webtoon of the same name, is set to open in South Korea on March 12. The movie stars Yuri, a member of the K-pop girl group Girls' Generation, as Min, and Sun-young Kwak as Young-eun. Somebody is a psychological thriller that follows the crumbling life of Young-eun, whose days are disrupted by her daughte...
Netflix to Release Webtoon-Based Revelations Film Produced by Alfonso Cuarón
Hellbound creator Sang-ho Yeon directs film
― Netflix announced on February 24 that it will release Revelations, a new film directed by Sang-ho Yeon, on March 21. Netflix also streamed the film's trailer: The film follows a pastor who believes that punishing the perpetrator of a missing person case is a divine revelation, and a detective haunted by the vision of her dead brother, who was involved in...
Netflix Confirms Release Date of Webtoon-Based Live-Action Thriller Series Karma
Series will be available on Netflix on April 4
― On March 4, Netflix confirmed the live-action adaptation of the webtoon Karma will be released globally on April 4. It also unveiled the official poster. Karma is a crime thriller that follows six individuals trapped in a web of fate they cannot escape. The series stars Hae-soo Park, Min-ah Shin, Hee-jun Lee, Sung-kyun Kim, Kwang-soo Lee, and Seung-ye...
Webtoon Entertainment to Discuss Power of Fandom in SXSW 2025
Panels to explore sustained popularity of Korean entertainment, fandom
― WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. announced on March 4 a series of appearances at SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX, including panels at the SXSW Conference and Fast Company's annual The Grill at SXSW. Executives from WEBTOON Entertainment and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios will participate in discussions about the influence of fandom on global enterta...
WEBTOON Entertainment Reports Increased Losses in Q4 2024
Company's total revenue increased by 5.1% year-over-year, reaching US$1.35 billion
― WEBTOON Entertainment, the U.S. subsidiary of Naver Webtoon, reported a significant increase in operating losses in 2024 while maintaining steady revenue growth. The company posted an operating loss of US$100.7 million, marking a 177% increase in loss compared to the previous year. Net losses also rose by 5.6% to US$...
YLAB Launches AI-Based Webtoon Solution 'OZ' to Enhance Digital Content Creation
New app OZ Viewer released in several languages to support webtoon production processes
― South Korean webtoon production company YLAB announced on Thursday the launch of the OZ Development Division to develop AI-powered webtoon solutions. The initiative aims to enhance creative efficiency and strengthen digital asset protection for webtoon creators and publishers. The newly established OZ Developme...
Webtoon Company YLAB Partners With K-Pop Star Zion.T on Music
Standard Friends will serve as music production house, expanding the narrative of YLAB's works through music.
― The webtoon production company YLAB has signed a partnership agreement with Standard Friends, a creative company led by singer-songwriter Zion.T, to commercialize webtoon intellectual property (IP) in the music industry. This collaboration aims to establish a new business model that integr...
Manta's Webtoon Betrayal of Dignity Concludes After 81 Episodes
Romance fantasy had been one of Manta's hit webtoons
― The webtoon Betrayal of Dignity officially ended its serialization on February 26 with its 81st episode, bringing the story to a grand conclusion. Illustrated by Surreuk Comics and serialized since 2023, the series has been one of the most well-received titles on the platform Manta. Set in a medieval romance fantasy world, Betrayal of Dignity fo...
Kakao Entertainment Report States It Blocked 240 Million Cases of Piracy in 2nd Half of 2024
Company expands its piracy monitoring system to include web novels
― Kakao Entertainment, the parent company of webtoon platform Tapas, released its 6th Anti-Piracy White Paper on February 25, marking a significant expansion in its efforts to combat the illegal distribution of intellectual property (IP). The latest white paper introduces the industry's first comprehensive anti-piracy system for web ...
Korean Web Novel The Siren: Becoming the Villain's Family Gets Stage Musical
Production company ShowNote holds auditions for musical set to premiere in April 2026
― Musical production company ShowNote has announced auditions for supporting and ensemble roles in the upcoming stage musical The Siren, which is set to premiere in April 2026. The musical is based on Sol Leesu's popular romance-fantasy web novel Siren: I Became a Contract Family with the Villain. Poya also adapted...
LINE Manga to Produce 20 New Animated Adaptations This Year
Naver Webtoon's Japanese subsidiary expands webtoon IP business
― LINE Digital Frontier CEO Shin-bae Kim announced on February 13 that the company will produce 20 animated adaptations of webtoons this year, significantly expanding its webtoon-based intellectual property (IP) business. LINE Digital Frontier is the operator of LINE Manga, the Japanese subsidiary of Naver Webtoon. Speaking at a press co...
Bomtoon Rescues Popular Webtoons from Shuttered Platform PeanuToon
Popular webtoons such as Sketch will continue serialization on Bomtoon
― Webtoon and web novel platform Bomtoon has announced that it will take over several popular webtoons from PeanuToon, which recently shut down due to financial struggles. On February 28, Bomtoon confirmed that it would continue the serialization of several hit webtoons from PeanuToon, preventing the sudden halt of these series a...
Live-Action Show of Webtoon History of Scruffiness Premiered on February 26
Release delayed due to school bullying allegations against lead actors
― The live-action series adaptation of History of Scruffiness is making its way to viewers after three years of delays. The Korean entertainment media source Xports News reported on February 21 that the series would premiere on February 26. The series is currently streaming on Wavve and Watcha, with two episodes released weekly. A...
Live-Action Secret Relationships Series Based on Boys-Love Webtoon is Now Available on iQIYI in U.S.
Cast includes the member of K-pop group WEi
― Kakao Entertainment, on February 27, confirmed that the live-action Secret Relationships series is available in the United States and other countries on the streaming site iQIYI. Fans in U.S. can watch Secret Relationships now. The series follows the intense romance between Da-on, who has never been able to live an everyday life, and three men who are dr...
Netflix to Release Weak Hero Class 1 Season on March 25
Weak Hero Class 2 to premiere in Q2 2025
― The action-packed live-action coming-of-age series Weak Hero Class 1, which follows model student Si-eun Yeon as he stands up against violence alongside his first true friends Soo-ho and Beom-seok, will launch globally on Netflix on March 25. The first season was successful when it premiered exclusively on Wavve, a Korean streaming platform. Following the s...
Blackpink's LISA to Release Comic Project
56-page limited-edition comic features artwork by Japanese artist MINOMIYABI
― LISA of BLACKPINK is preparing for her solo debut with the release of her album ALTER-EGO on February 28. Earlier this month, she rereleased the single "Born Again," featuring Doja Cat and RAYE, signaling the start of her solo career. Alongside the album, LISA is launching ALTER-EGO: THE OFFICIAL COMIC in collaboration wi...
Live-Action Adaptation of Webtoon Karma Comes to Netflix on 2nd Quarter of 2025
Webtoon follows 6 individuals trapped in web of fate
― The Kakao Webtoon series Karma is set to be adapted into a Netflix live-action series, scheduled for release in the second quarter of this year. Karma is a crime thriller that follows six individuals trapped in a web of fate they cannot escape. The series stars Hae-soo Park, Min-ah Shin, Hee-jun Lee, Sung-kyun Kim, Kwang-soo Lee, and Seung-yeon ...
Live-Action Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Film Confirms July Release in New Video
Trailer previews Ahn Hyo-seop as Dok-ja Kim, Lee Min-ho as Joong-hyuk Yoo
― Lotte Entertainment, a Korean movie distributor, announced on February 15 that the live-action movie of Omniscient Reader will be released in July. The movie is based on the webtoon of the same name, which tells the story of Dok-ja Kim, the sole reader of a fantasy novel that has been serialized for over a decade. When the n...
Sae-ron Kim's Final Film Based on Webtoon to Release Later This Year
Live-action project based on Every Day We webtoon to include both theatrical film, series
― The late actress Sae-ron Kim's final film, Every Day We, is set for a theatrical release as early as this fall. Director Min-jae Kim confirmed in an interview with Yonhap News Agency (YNA) on Thursday that the film is currently in the editing process and is expected to be released either in the fall or winter...
Best New K-Comics to Read: February 2025
For the romance-focused month, we've got sweet BL, a writer in a wardrobe, daring love affairs, and just enough to spice to keep it interesting.
― Ah, February, the shortest month with those two most venerable holidays, Valentine's Day and the even more beloved (and fake) Cheap Chocolate Day. It's no surprise that a lot of the K-Comics coming out across reading platforms are so romance-heavy this mon...
Under the Plum Blossom Tree Boys-Love Webtoon Returns with Season 3
Most popular Thursday webtoon on Kakao Webtoon returned in Korean on January 29
― The webtoon Under the Plum Blossom Tree returned with Season 3 on Kakao Webtoon in Korean on January 29, after a 10-month hiatus. The series, written by Bori and drawn by Baekha, has amassed 320 million views. With Bori's strong historical narrative and Baekha's illustrations, the webtoon has been ranked as the top Thu...
Tokyopop Reveals 15 New Manga, Webtoon Licenses; 5 New Manga Releases Under LoveLove Imprint
New licenses include Kengo Matsumoto's My New Wife's Fake Smile, Mizoko Tsuno's You Can't Live All on Your Own!, Senmu Sakishita's Cute But Not Cute manga, Haegi's Eternal Covenant webtoon
― Tokyopop announced on Sunday that it has licensed 15 new titles: My New Wife's Fake Smile
Author: Kengo Matsumoto New Series Announcement: My New Wife's Fake SmileA samurai is worried about the fact that his wife...
Live-Action Series Adaptation of Secret Relationships Webtoon to Premiere on February 27
Boys-love webtoon amassed 170 million views
― The upcoming live-action series Secret Relationships, based on a webtoon of the same name, is set to premiere this month. Watcha, a Korean streaming platform, announced on January 31 that the exclusive series will be released on February 27. The series follows the intense romance between Da-on, who has never been able to live an everyday life, and three ...
WEBTOON Launches Video Contest with US$200,000 in Prizes
1-minute video based on WEBTOON original series can get you US$30,000
― WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. has launched the WEBTOON Video Contest, inviting fans to create TikToks or YouTube Shorts inspired by WEBTOON Originals for a chance to win cash prizes. The contest offers a total prize pool of up to US$200,000, with a US$30,000 Grand Prize, multiple US$10,000 Diamond prizes, US$5,000 Platinum prizes, a...
My Troublesome Fiancee Manga Gets Live-Action Series
March series stars Fantastics member Natsuki Hori, Momoko Tanabe
― TV Asahi announced on Tuesday that a live-action series adaptation of Monaka Toyama and Midori Shiino's My Troublesome Fiancee (Kimi wa Mendōna Konyakusha) manga will premiere in March. Fantastics dance and vocal group member Natsuki Hori plays Hajime Tachibana, and Momoko Tanabe (A Flying Princess and a Secret Island, live-action Tur...
Denma Creator Young-soon Yang Starts New Dalma Gun Webtoon
Yang faces backlash after ending of Denma
― On January 28, Denma creator Young-soon Yang launched his new webtoon Dalma Gun on Naver Webtoon. However, the reception has been overwhelmingly negative, as many fans remain frustrated over the abrupt and unresolved ending of Denma. Yang, who debuted in 1994, has produced multiple works, with Denma becoming his most successful series, amassing 2.6 billion...
Viz Media to Release Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber Comic by Team Phoenix Artist, More in Fall 2025
Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple webtoon, box set for Disney Twisted-Wonderland Book of Heartslabyul manga also announced
― Viz Media announced on Friday several new works it will release in fall 2025, in addition to its announcement of long-requested release of Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga. Viz Media will release the first volume of Spanish artist Kenny Ruiz's Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber co...
Webtoon Artist Associations Condemn PeanuToon's Sudden Shutdown
Organizations call for adequate compensation for artists
― On February 4, the Korea Cartoonist Association and the Korea Webtoon Artist Association issued a statement denouncing the abrupt shutdown of PeanuToon, emphasizing the negative impact on both creators and readers. The organizations criticized the unilateral decision, arguing that it not only violates creators' rights but also undermines the...
Webtoon, Web Novel Platform Manta Announces New Subscription Tier
New tier to provide access to 300+ subscribed titles, plus 125 Gems monthly
― Webtoon and web novel platform Manta announced on Tuesday the launch of its Premium subscription plan, set to go live on February 11 at 12:00 a.m. EST. Manta stated new plan aims to expand access to its content library while maintaining flexibility for users who wish to engage with Gem titles. For US$9.99 monthly, subscrib...
True Beauty Webtoon Gets 2 Live-Action Japanese Films
1st film Megami Kōrin Before premieres in Japan on March 20, 2nd film Megami Kōrin After premieres on May 1
― The staff for Megami Kōrin Before Kōkō Debut-hen / After Proposal-hen (True Beauty Before: High School Debut Arc / After: Proposal Arc), the two-part Japanese live-action film adaptation of Yaongyi's True Beauty webtoon, revealed the films' poster visual and trailer on Thursday. The video rev...
Netflix Unveils Sneak Peek of Live-Action Adaptation for Mercy for None Webtoon
Dark noir follows gangster who returns to crime world for revenge of his brother
― Netflix Korea's YouTube channel released on Monday a sneak peek for Mercy for None, the live-action adaptation of the Naver Webtoon, Plaza Wars: Mercy for None. Netflix has stated that the series will premiere sometime in 2025, but it has not specified an exact release date. Ji-sub So stars as Ki-joon, alongside Lee Be...
Getting Started with K-Comics - WEBTOON
From a fantastical cat to an office space in Hell, here are some of the best K-Comic series to start reading on WEBTOON!
― K-Comics have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and there are a lot of sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. It might be helpful to give readers a place to start, especially since most of the sites have vast libraries that can be over...
Serialized Fiction App Yonder to End Service on July 31
App launched in 2022, features English translations of South Korean web novels
― The YONDER app, which releases serialized fiction titles including English translations of many South Korean web novels, announced on Friday that it will end service on July 31. WEBTOON Entertainment, the home to WEBTOON and Wattpad, launched the YONDER app in late 2022 with a goal "to create a unique space to bring a cu...
Itaewon Class Webtoon Gets Stage Musical Adaptation in Japan
Tony Award-nominated composer Helen Park composes music for musical
― Kakao Entertainment announced on January 22 that the global hit webtoon Itaewon Class will debut as a stage musical at Brillia Hall in Tokyo, Japan, in June. This marks the first-ever musical adaptation of the series and follows its successful adaptations into live-action in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Starring Japanese idol a...
Seven Seas Licenses Breathless Time Traveler Novel, Werewolves Going Crazy Over Me Webtoon, 4 More Titles
Also licensed: Cupid is Struck by Lightning, Rebel Hero: I Will Use My Skills to Control the Scheming Princess's Heart and Body
― Seven Seas announced the following licenses on Wednesday: Title: Breathless Time Traveler novel
Creator(s): Yuyuko Takemiya
Release Date: September 2025 (Airship imprint)
Summary: Kannami Rara is addicted to social media and idolizes Ariana Grande—in other words, she's you...
Webtoon Temp Worker in the Underworld to Begin Official Serialization After 10 Years on Amateur Platform
Official serialization will begin in April
― Naver Webtoon announced the official serialization of the webtoon Temp Worker in Underworld on January 15. After almost a decade and over 300 episodes on Naver Webtoon's amateur platform Best Challenge, Temp Worker in Underworld has been officially picked up for serialization. The series follows protagonist Do-Jin Lee, who encounters a grim reaper while s...
Webtoon Platform PeanuToon Abruptly Shuts Down Next Month
Korean webtoon platform launched in 2015 and will shut down on February 28
― PeanuToon, a Korean webtoon platform, announced on its website and official X/Twitter account on January 16 that it will terminate its services on February 28. The platform advised users to check its website for details regarding service usage and refunds for its in-app currency. Both readers and creators have expressed sho...
Kakao Entertainment Confirms Live-Action Adaptation of Solo Leveling
Company is currently developing script
― Kakao Entertainment confirmed on Tuesday that a live-action drama adaptation of writer Chugong and the late artist DUBU's (REDICE Studio) Solo Leveling webcomic is in development. The company's media division is actively involved in the drama's planning, development, and scriptwriting. In October 2023, French news website L'Internaute interviewed D&C Webtoon c...
Solo Leveling Webtoon Producer Redice Entertainment Enters Int'l Film Sales Business
Company will present Sister, Killing Time films at European Film Market in Berlin
― South Korea's Redice Entertainment, known for producing the webtoon Solo Leveling among many other webtoons, has entered the international film sales market and will present a lineup at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin. The company will showcase two new films, Sister and Killing Time, both currently in post-pr...
Bloodhounds, Live-Action Adaptation of Webtoon, is Coming Back for Season 2 With K-Pop Star Rain
Season 2 features battle to dismantle illegal boxing league
― Netflix has confirmed the production of Bloodhounds Season 2, the series about boxers taking on the criminal underworld. Netflix announced on Thursday that Do-hwan Woo and Sang-yi Lee would reprise their roles as Geon-woo and Woo-jin, respectively. Season 2 will feature a new addition to the cast: singer-turned-actor Ji-hoon Jung (Rain), ...
Webtoon Platform Piccoma Named Japan's Top Consumer-Spending App for 2024
LINE Manga was 3rd based on Data.ai's estimates
― According to mobile data analytics firm Data.ai, Japanese digital webcomic and web novel platform Piccoma was the app with the highest consumer spending in Japan for 2024. Data from the combined Android and iOS app markets, including games, showed that Piccoma generated an estimated US$497 million in consumer spending. Following Piccoma, the second h...
Live-Action Adaptation of Webtoon Bunny and Her Oppas Will Premiere on April 14
Webtoon has amassed more than 170 million views on Kakao Webtoon, Tapas
― Korean TV station MBC announced on January 8 that the live-action adaptation of the webtoon Bunny and Her Oppas will premiere on April 14. Based on the Kakao webtoon of the same name, which has accumulated 170 million views, Bunny and Her Oppas stars Jeong-eui Roh as the titular character Bunny. Bunny, whose real name is Hee-j...
Getting Started with K-Comics - Manta
K-comics and webtoons have exploded onto the scene with lots of legal sites offering readers an overwhelming amount of choice. Rebecca offers a few good series to start with on Manta's site and app.
― K-Comics have exploded in popularity over the past few years, which means there are many sites and apps to choose from when you're looking for your next read. So, we thought it might be helpful to give ...
Live-Action Adaptation of The Witch Webtoon Will Premiere on February 15
Jin-young Park from GOT 7 will star as main character
― Korean TV station Channel A announced on January 13 that its new live-action series The Witch will premiere on February 15. The first teaser video has also been released, featuring Jin-young Park and Jeong-eui Roh as the leads in a story adapted from the webtoon by renowned artist Kang Full, who authored the original webtoons for Disney+ series...
Netflix Unveils Trailer for Trauma Code: Heroes on Call Live-Action Series
Trailer shows how Ji-hoon Ju depicts genius surgeon, former combat medic Kang-hyuk Baek
― Netflix Asia released the official trailer on Monday for the Netflix series The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call on its official YouTube channel. The trailer highlights the main character Kang-hyuk Baek's personality as an arrogant surgeon, while also providing a glimpse into the conflicts among other characters set...
Live-Action Adaptation of Study Group Webtoon Premieres on January 23
High school action drama to stream on Amazon Prime Video
― Korean entertainment media Dispatch revealed on January 6 that Amazon Prime Video's original series Study Group will premiere on January 23. In Korea the series will stream on TVING. Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, Study Group follows Ga-min Yoon, a martial arts expert who hides his abilities to focus on getting good grades. Min-h...
Webtoon Industry Surpasses US$1.5 Billion in Sales for the 1st Time
Sales have increased by 19.7% from last year
― According to the "2024 Webtoon Industry Survey" published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) on December 2, the Korean webtoon industry recorded total sales of approximately US$1.5 billion in 2023, a 19.7% increase from around US$1.24 billion the previous year. This marks the first time th...
Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, Live-Action Medical Drama Based on Web Novel, Debuts on Netflix on January 24
Ji-hoon Ju stars as brilliant trauma surgeon in series
― According to reporting by Korean entertainment media IZE on December 20, Netflix's original series The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call — the platform's first original medical series — will premiere on January 24. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call follows the story of the underfunded and unpopular severe trauma team at a university hospital, which co...
When the Phone Rings Web Novel Author Reveals Personal Experience with Phishing
Author's experience inspired web novel that also has webtoon adaptation, live-action series adaptation on Netflix
― In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap News Agency published on January 6, the web novelist known as "Dried Seafood Lady" shared that her real-life experience of falling victim to a voice phishing scam inspired her story. "I was completely taken in by the phone call and felt myself ...
Viral Hit K-Comic Review
Viral Hit is very hard to read because of how relatable it is on two major fronts.
― Viral Hit is very hard to read because it is relatable on two major fronts. The first one is its depiction of modern-day bullying and humiliation. The second is that Viral Hit very much leans into seeing life through the perspective of an absolute self-aware loser. Our protagonist, Hobin, is someone who is physically...
Operator of Illegal Webtoon Platform Arrested
Inter-agency effort was successful in shutting down 3 domains
― The Copyright Crime Forensic Investigation Team under Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) conducted a full-scale investigation into Korea's largest copyright-infringing website, "Nunu TV," as well as its illegal sister websites "TVWiki" and "OKTOON," and revealed on December 20 the alleged operator of the websites was...
Research Report Finds Naver Webtoon's AI Recommendation System Boosts Diversity (Updated)
Korea University conducted research for report that released on December 10
― Korea University's Business School announced on December 10 that Naver Webtoon's AI-powered recommendation system, AI Curator, has proven effective in reducing the dominance of popular titles while increasing exposure for lesser-known works. The report "Enhancing Diversity with AI Curator Recommendations" highlights the sy...
Motel California Webtoon Adaptation of Upcoming K-Drama Launches
Series is another example of media mix of K-drama, webtoon
― Kakao Entertainment announced on Friday that it launched the webtoon Home, Bitter Home: Motel California, which is set in the same world as new K-drama Motel California, scheduled to air soon. Based on the web novel Home, Bitter Home, already serialized on Kakao Page, the new webtoon was adapted and produced by Studio Yosin. Motel Californ...
Light Shop Makes 2nd-Largest Korean Series Debut on Disney+
Moving stays in 1st place for most successful Korean series on Disney+
― Disney+ on Friday announced that the live-action TV series Light Shop ranks as the platform's second-largest Korean series debut, following Moving, according to data from its first 12 days of streaming. Both Moving and Light Shop highlight Disney+'s growing success in Korean content. Nine of the platform's 15 best-performing in...
New Romance Fantasy Webtoon The Hidden Muse Launches on Manta
Story follows tutor who becomes nude model to save her sister
― Manta has announced the launch of The Hidden Muse, a new romance-fantasy webtoon that debuted on December 20. This latest title from Manta Studios, known for popular series like Betrayal of Dignity and I've Become a True Villainess, adds to the platform's expanding library. Based on Minato's novel of the same name, The Hidden Muse combi...
Best New K-Comics to Read: December 2024
Winter is the perfect time to snuggle in and do some reading. So, let's take a look at what Webtoon, Manta, Tapas, and Lezhin have to offer.
― It's the holiday season, that inescapable time of year when you can't avoid their mention even if you don't participate in the major festivals! For some of us, that means it's the perfect time to snuggle in and do some reading. Luckily for everyone, the major ...
Martial Arts Webtoon Return of the Blossoming Blade Takes Top Spot in KOCCA Survey
Lookism lost #1 spot in survey for 1st time in 4 years
― Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) announced on Monday that Return of the Blossoming Blade, the martial arts webtoon, has emerged as the most popular title among South Korean webtoon readers. In the "2024 Comics & Webtoon User Survey," which polled 3,448 webtoon readers, Return of the Blossoming Blade claimed the top spot for most-read webt...
Live-Action Light Shop Adaptation Boosts Viewership of Original Webtoon by 1,870%
Author Kangfull's Moving webtoon also sees rise in viewership
― Hulu original series Light Shop is gaining traction, bringing renewed attention to its original webtoon. Kakao Entertainment announced on Wednesday that the viewership for the webtoon on Kakao Webtoon and Kakao Page surged 187 times from pre-release levels between December 3, the show's premiere date, and December 15. Revenue from the w...
K-Comic Creator Spotlight: Moscareto
From fluffy to fraught, the office to the palace, and everything in between, there's a lot to enjoy from this prolific author.
― With the increase in official translations of Korean comics, we have the opportunity to discover new-to-us creators, many of whom have several works, if not an entire body of them, available in English. While the sadly defunct Netcomics did a remarkable job of bringing mult...
566 Comics, Webtoon Artists Unite to Demand Impeachment of Korean President
17 organizations issue joint call for action
― On Wednesday, 566 comics and webtoon artists released a collective statement addressing South Korea's political situation. The statement criticized President Suk-yeol Yoon for declaring martial law on December 4. Yoon cited opposition party resistance to his governance as the reason for the declaration. Following the declaration, President Yoon attempte...
Naver Webtoon to Release Collection of Mobile Games Based on Its Flagship Titles
Naver Webtoon to extend its content to gaming world
― Nanobit, a Stillfront Group studio, announced on Thursday it has partnered with Naver Webtoon, Korea's largest webtoon platform, to develop free-to-play mobile games based on popular webtoons. The games will target global audiences and expand webtoon content into interactive entertainment. Stillfront is a Sweden-based global games company that dev...
Live-Action Adaptation of Webtoon Love Revolution Premieres in Japan on January 11
Series to star Toa Shimasaki, Mizuki Yoshida, Ichiki Yamanaka
― The new live-action television series Renai Kakumei (Love Revolution), starring Toa Shimasaki from Lil Kansai, will premiere on January 11, 2025, during late-night programming on ABC TV in Japan. Based on the popular webtoon Love Revolution, which was previously adapted in Korea in 2020, the series follows high school student Rei Himeno...
Kagurabachi Ranks #1 on U.S. Monthly Bookscan November List
17 manga including One Piece, Dandadan, Berserk, One-Punch Man, Chainsaw Man, Uzumaki, Demon Slayer make list
― The first volume of Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi manga ranked at #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for November. This month's list featured 17 manga volumes, including: #1 — Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi volume 1
#3 — Eiichiro Oda's One Piece volume 107
#4 — Yukinob...
Light Shop, Live-Action Thriller Series Based on Webtoon, is Streaming Now on Hulu
Thriller about where living, dead meet stars Ji-hoon Ju, Bo-young Park
― Hulu began streaming the first four episodes of the new thriller series Light Shop on December 3. The live-action adaptation of the webtoon of the same name stars Ji-hoon Ju as Won-young, the owner of a shop where the living and the dead intersect, and Bo-young Park as Young-ji, an ICU nurse dedicated to patient recovery. The s...
I Raised a Black Dragon K-Comic Review
I Raised a Black Dragon isn't perfect, something that mostly comes down to an ending that simply screams for a sequel. But it's also a nice twist on some of its genre's staler elements and a good read overall.
― Have you ever wondered what happened to the person who used to be the owner of a body taken over by an isekai'd soul? Not many books seem to care, but Sottan's I Raised a Black Dragon isn't o...
Imitation Volumes 1-4 K-Comic Review
The mentions of dieting in this K-pop comic are all so casually done up until this point that I at first thought that I was overreacting by zeroing in on them.
― The idol industry is no joke. It would be easy to forget how vicious it can be, given that a lot of manga, manhwa, and anime try to give us a romanticized portrait, and at first, it looks like Imitation may be doing the same thing. It follow...
Who Made Me a Princess Volumes 4-6 K-Comics Review
Who Made Me a Princess was good in its first three books, but it's very good in its second. The final three volumes should be excellent if things continue on this trajectory.
― It's practically narrative law that if the villainess character turns out to be good, the heroine must be bad. We've seen that play out over a plethora of series, and while there are exceptions, it happens often enough to feel...
My Hero Academia Ranks #1 on U.S. Monthly Bookscan October List
15 manga including Berserk, 'Destroy All Humans. They Can't Be Regenerated. A Magic: The Gathering Manga,' Uzumaki, more make list
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The 39th volume of Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia manga ranked at #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for October. This month's list featured 15 manga volumes, including: #1 — Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia volume 39
#2 — Kentarou Miura's ...
The Fall 2024 K-Comics Guide
It's the final update of our K-Comics Guide! Be sure to come and find your next series; whether you're into social justice, historical romance, or isekai, there's something for everyone!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2024 K-Comics Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included manhwa was published in September or October or is an upcoming November release, although some are ongoing...
Punch Drunk Love Volumes 1-2 K-Comic Review
Seon-woo and Tae-moon’s relationship is almost entirely based on sex for most of these two volumes, so if you’re looking for something that puts the “without” in PWP, this is the series for you.
― Readers of BL manhwa and novels may recognize the name of the author of Punch Drunk Love: Moscareto is also the author of The New Recruit, another office romance. But the setting is the only thing these two...
The Fall 2024 Light Novel Guide
It's time to crack open your next book! Our guide includes light novels, deep-dives into anime series, and a retrospective from horror manga master, Junji Ito!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2024 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included novel was published in September or October or is an upcoming November release. This guide focuses exclusively on series premieres...
Exclusive: Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Webcomic's Trailer Streamed Before English Debut on November 11
Sequel series from Daul, JIN, Brix launches in English on Tapas
― Tapas revealed through ANN on Friday a trailer for the upcoming English release of the Solo Leveling: Ragnarok webcomic. Tapas will start releasing the webcomic in English on November 11, and will release new chapters weekly. The webcomic is a sequel to the original Solo Leveling web novel and webcomic. Tapas describes the story: Solo ...
Korea's WEBTOON Entertainment In Midst of Labor Dispute
WEBTOON Entertainment's labor union is requesting fair compensation after its CEO was awarded an eye-popping $30 million in cash and stock options.
― Since going public on the U.S. stock market, WEBTOON Entertainment, the world's leading platform for Korean webcomics, has been battling a series of escalating crises. The company's stock price has plummeted by 50%, and disgruntled stockholders have fil...
From Vertical Scroll to Screen: Anime Adaptations of K-Comics
It's becoming hard to miss: anime is increasingly mining Korean comics for inspiration. Let's take a look at some of the popular adaptations so far.
― It's becoming hard to miss: anime is increasingly mining Korean comics for inspiration. It's hardly a new thing, though – back in 2004, Ragnarok started the ball rolling, followed by Black God in 2009. The former series was based on a game, while the ...
See You in My 19th Life Volumes 1-3 K-Comic Review
The K-Comic series See You in My 19th Life is a love story that is as much about the tragic past as the hopeful present.
― Tragedy and romance have been linked almost since the dawn of literature. Why else would stories of doomed lovers like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or historical tales of Cleopatra and her lovers be so lionized? For many readers, the fine line between the potential for a happy ...
Live-Action Trillion Game Film's 2nd Teaser Reveals More Returning Cast
Kōsuke Suzuki, Kenjirō Tsuda, Terunosuke Takezai, Yoshitaka Hara, Akari Akase, Jun Kunimura return
― The official website for the upcoming live-action film of Riichirou Inagaki and Ryoichi Ikegami's Trillion Game manga began streaming the second teaser trailer for the film on Friday. The teaser reveals cast members returning from the live-action series. The returning cast members include Kōsuke Suzuk...
Chainsaw Man Ranks #1 on U.S. Monthly Bookscan September List
Jujutsu Kaisen, Trigun, Berserk, more make top 20 list
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The 16th volume of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man manga ranked at #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for September. This month's list featured 13 manga volumes, including: #1 — Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man volume 16
#2 — Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 23
#3 — Yasuhiro Nightow's Trigun Deluxe
#5 — Kentarou Miura...
Korean Live-Action Parasyte Series Wins SFX Award At Asia Contents Awards
Series debuted on Netflix on April 5
― Netflix's Parasyte: The Grey (Kiseiju: The Grey), the South Korean live-action adaptation of Hitoshi Iwaaki's Parasyte (Kiseiju) manga, won the Best Visual Effects award at Busan's Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards on Sunday. The series debuted worldwide on Netflix on April 5. Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, and Lee Jung-hyun star in the adaptation. Yeon Sang...
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