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Webtoon Entertainment touts new focus on creators as it broadens base to include video, animation and games

Published: 17 Mar. 2026, 19:00 Updated: 18 Mar. 2026, 10:00

Kim Yong-soo, president of Webtoon Entertainment, speaks during a press conference at Naver Square in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on March 17. [NAVER WEBTOON]

Webtoon Entertainment is shifting its strategy from focusing on hit titles to building a creator-centered system that expands stories into a wider realm of intellectual property (IP) including video, animation and games.

“Webtoons begin with creators, and their success leads to the platform’s success,” said Kim Yong-soo, president of Webtoon Entertainment, outlining the strategy during a press briefing held Tuesday at Naver Square in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

“Expanding this ecosystem is our top priority. Until now, we have focused on discovering and growing IP,” continued Kim. “Going forward, we will more deliberately support how that IP expands beyond the platform. The essence of webtoons is not the format but the story.”

Kim also described the industry as a cycle where creators make content, users consume it and generate revenue and that revenue then goes back into new content. Over the past five years, Webtoon Entertainment has shared 4.15 trillion won ($2.8 billion) in revenue with creators, according to the company.

The new strategy marks a shift toward turning webtoon stories into content that can extend across formats such as animation and games.

The move comes as the way people consume content is changing. Short-form video and other formats are taking up more of users’ time, pushing Webtoon Entertainment to expand beyond its platform.

Webtoon Entertainment plans to invest in Canvas, its global user-generated content platform where amateur creators can upload and share their own webtoons, strengthen AI-based recommendations and expand video and short-form content.

Webtoon Entertainment's booth is seen during a comics festival in Paris, France, on July 13, 2023. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Competition is also intensifying in global markets. Webtoons have gained traction in the United States, attracting major tech companies.

Amazon has tested its vertical-scroll comics service Fliptoon in Japan and is considering expansion into North America. Apple is also expanding its vertically scrolling comics section in Apple Books.

As more platforms begin offering webtoons, Webtoon Entertainment aims to stay competitive by securing creators and expanding their stories into other formats.

“A structure where we secure creators and produce exclusive content within that ecosystem is not easy to replace,” Kim said. “That ecosystem itself is our biggest competitive advantage.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KWEN YU-JIN [[email protected]]