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Webtoon-Based Live-Action Thriller Series iShopping to Debut in July
Series follows survival, revenge journey of children abandoned by their adoptive parents
― Korean cable network ENA has announced that its new series iShopping will debut on July 21. Based on a popular Kakao webtoon of the same name, iShopping is a high-stakes action thriller that follows the harrowing survival and revenge journey of children abandoned by their adoptive parents. Recognized initially...
Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Ranks #2 on NYT June Bestseller List
― The 26th volume of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga ranked at #2 on The New York Times' monthly Graphic Books and Manga bestseller list released in early June. The manga on this month's list include: #2 — Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 26
#5 — Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man volume 18
#11 — Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7 Steel Ball Run Hardcover volume 1
#14 — Takeru Hok...
Webtoon, Web Novel Positively Yours Confirmed for Live-Action Adaptation
Series follows seemingly perfect high school teacher who has one-night stand with school's chairman
― The romance series Positively Yours, originally released as both a web novel and a webtoon, is officially being adapted into a live-action series. According to SPOTVNews' report on June 16, the production has been confirmed, and casting is currently underway. The story follows a seemingly perfect hi...
YUJU Releases 'Sweet Dream' Song for This Is a Campus Romance Series Webtoon
Series is one of Naver Webtoon's flagship romance titles
― Naver Webtoon has released a new original song titled "Sweet Dream" for its ongoing webtoon This Is a Campus Romance Series. YUJU, a member of K-pop girl group GFRIEND, performs the song. First launched in July 2022, This Is a Campus Romance Series has become one of Naver Webtoon's flagship romance titles. The webtoon follows the everyday li...
Lotto 1st Place Winner Goes to Work Too Webtoon Gets Live-Action Series Adaptation
Jun-hyuk Lee, Hyun-woo Seo will star in comedy workplace series
― Korean streaming platform TVING has officially greenlit the production of Lotto 1st Place Winner Goes to Work Too, a new live-action series based on the webtoon/web novel of the same name. The comedy workplace series will have 10 episodes. The story centers on Eun-tae Gong, a modest and unremarkable office employee who unexpectedly wi...
Pocket Comics Platform Ends English, French, Korean Services on October 31
Manga, webtoon platform launched English service in 2020, French service in 2022
― Global webtoon platform Pocket Comics announced on Monday that its English and French platforms, and the Korean Comico platform will all end service on October 31, due to "business reasons." Coin purchases on the platform are available until July 15, and Coins can be used until the service ends on October 31. End of pu...
Jujutsu Kaisen Tops Bookscan's May Adult Graphic Novel List in U.S.
13 manga rank in list including Chainsaw Man, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Kagurabachi, Blue Lock, Frieren, Dragon Ball Super, more
― The 26th volume of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga ranked at #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for May. This month's list featured 13 manga volumes, including: #1 — Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 26
#2 — Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man vo...
Piracy Site EnryuManga Removes Naver Titles Following Cease-and-Desist from Webtoon Ent.
Piracy site encouraged users to read on official platforms such as WEBTOON, Wattpad
― EnryuManga, an unauthorized webcomic hosting site, has removed all Naver WEBTOON content after receiving a cease-and-desist notice from WEBTOON Entertainment. In a statement posted on its homepage, EnryuManga confirmed the takedown and cited “the safety of our team members” and “the most mature course” as reasons fo...
Maeil Economy Report: Pocket Comics Considers Exiting France as Webtoon Platforms Struggle in Europe
Service halted all new content uploads in France earlier this year
― According Korean business media website Maeil Economy, Pocket Comics, the global webtoon platform operated by NHN, is considering shutting down its French service, signaling a broader pullback of Korean digital comics from the European market. Although the service is still technically live, Pocket Comics has halted all new content ...
World Webtoon Festival Returns to Seoul in October
Event to feature pop-up stores, awards, exhibitions, showcases, webtoon job fair
― The government-led World Webtoon Festival, which drew fan turnout in its debut last year, is set to return for its second edition from October 19 to 22, 2025, in Seoul. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and hosted by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the event aims to promote Kor...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series S Line to Premiere in July
Series will exclusively stream in Korea on Wavve
― Korean streaming platform Wavve announced on Thursday the exclusive release of S Line, the live-action adaptation of the webtoon by author kkomabi. The series is scheduled for release in July. The original webtoon S Line explores a provocative premise: a mysterious red line — visible only to some —connects individuals who have had sexual relationshi...
Naver Webtoon Introduces Stricter Hate Speech Guidelines After Controversy
Move follows backlash over amateur webtoon Otherworldly Pongpong Man
― In response to mounting criticism over hate-filled content, Naver Webtoon announced on May 29 it will introduce its revamped content and community guidelines aimed at preventing discriminatory or offensive material. The updated rules will take effect on June 30. The move follows backlash over the amateur webtoon Otherworldly Pong...
Lezhin Launches BL Collection Event Featuring 16 Short Stories
Event releases 2 new short BL stories daily for 8 days
― Lezhin Comics US has launched a new "ABC: Short Stories" event featuring 16 new boys-love short stories released over eight consecutive days. The event release two new boys-love stories daily from June 1-9. As part of the event, readers can redeem bonus coins in their gift boxes each day. The stories released so far include: Dacto's Legroom
Ka...
Webtoon Service Ends Daily Pass Feature
Episodes for previous Daily Pass series now cost coins to unlock, or can sometimes be unlocked with ads
― WEBTOON has recently quietly discontinued its popular Daily Pass feature. Readers recently noticed that episodes (chapters) previously available through Daily Pass now require coins or sometimes viewing ads to unlock. Episodes from series that were previously available through Daily Pass now cos...
Webtoon Shark Sees Surge in Views, Revenue Following Live-Action Adaptation
Webtoon sees over 200,000 daily views, elevenfold increase in revenue since adaptation's debut last month
― Kakao Entertainment's long-running webtoon Shark, which began serialization in 2016, is seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to its new live-action series adaptation. The original series has amassed over 190 million cumulative views in Korea. Following the May 15 release of the live-action...
Tappytoon Launches New Short Webtoon Feature 'Midnight Snack'
New feature presents bite-sized webtoon stories in genres like romance fantasy, BL, GL
― Contents First, the company behind the global webtoon platform Tappytoon, announced the launch of a new short webtoon feature called "Midnight Snack" on Wednesday. Targeted at Tappytoon's core audience — women in their 20s and 30s — Midnight Snack presents bite-sized webtoon stories in the platform's most popula...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series ONE: High School Heroes Reveals Cast, Story
Series about high school masked vigilante group debuted on May 30
― Wavve, a Korean streaming platform, revealed the cast and storyline of the webtoon-based live-action series ONE: High School Heroes on May 27. The production presentation for ONE: High School Heroes was held on May 28. The main cast was in attendance including Jung-ha Lee, Do-wan Kim, Sang-ho Kim, Joo-ryoung Kim, Hee-je Yoo, Jun-seo...
Korean Government Agencies to Release Standard Contract Guidebook for Webtoon Industry
Standard contract guidebook to include key protections for webtoon creators
― South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) announced on May 29 that they will release an official commentary guidebook for the standard contract used in the comics and webtoon industry. The guidebook will be made available to the public on June 13. The standa...
Webtoon-Based Animated Series Acorn Culture Center Premieres on June 1
Story centers on workaholic middle manager at large corporation who gradually undergoes personal transformation
― Korean public TV network EBS began airing the animated adaptation of the webtoon Acorn Culture Center on June 1. The series will broadcast every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. KST on EBS. Based on the webtoon created by Nanda and serialized between 2021 and 2023 on Kakao Webtoon, Acorn Culture Cen...
Operator of Illegal Webtoon Site OKToon Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
Court also orders forfeiture of about US$510,000 for copyright infringement
― The operator of OKToon, a major illegal webtoon piracy site, has been sentenced to prison by a South Korean court. On May 26, the Daejeon District Court sentenced the defendant (identified as A) to three years in prison and ordered a forfeiture of about US$510,000 for violating copyright law. A was found guilty of operatin...
Love Alarm Webtoon Artist Pens Born to Be King Asian Fantasy Web Novel
Story centers on world where individuals are assigned gender through ceremonial rite at age 10
― Kye-young Chon, the creator behind the manhwa Audition and the webtoon Love Alarm, has made her debut as a web novelist. According to Korean web novel platform KakaoPage, her new web novel Born to Be King was officially released on May 24. The story is set in a fictional world where individuals are assig...
Disney+ Korea Confirms 2025 Live-Action Series Low Life Based on Webtoon The Hooligans
Story centers on greedy yet earnest locals stumbling upon rumor of sunken treasure ship
― Disney+ Korea has officially added Low Life to its lineup for the second half of 2025. The new live-action series is based on The Hooligans by webtoon creator Tae-ho Yoon, and will star Seung-ryong Ryu, Se-jong Yang, and Soo-jung Lim. Set in a coastal village near Sinan, Low Life follows a group of greedy yet e...
S. Korea FTC Finds Over 1,000 Unfair Terms in Webtoon, Web Novel Contracts
23 content providers including RIDI, Lezhin Comics ordered to correct contracts
― South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has identified a sweeping number of unfair contract terms used by major webtoon and web novel content providers, including clauses allowing for the unauthorized production and use of derivative works such as films and dramas without proper consent from creators. According to a...
Korean Teachers' Union Calls for Cancellation of Live-Action Webtoon-Based Get Schooled Series
Union released statement titled “Violence Is Not True Education”
― The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), also known as JeonGyoJo, has publicly opposed the production of the upcoming Netflix series adaptation of the webtoon Get Schooled, calling for its cancellation due to concerns over its portrayal of violence and the education system. On May 20, the union released a statement titl...
Live-Action Webtoon-Based My Daughter is a Zombie Film Reveals Trailer
Webtoon centers on father trying to save his daughter, who is the last remaining zombie in the world
― Naver Webtoon revealed the trailer for the webtoon-based live-action film My Daughter is a Zombie on May 22. In the film, Jung-hwan (played by Jung-suk Cho) travels to the seaside village of Eunbong-ri, where his mother Bamsun (played by Jung-eun Lee) lives, to protect his daughter Soo-ah (played b...
BL Webtoon Painter of the Night Inspires Short-Form Live-Action Series
Series follows aristocrat Seung-ho Yoon, erotic paintings artist Na-kyum Baek
― Korean broadcasting system JTBC announced on Thursday the webtoon Painter of the Night is set to be adapted into a short-form live-action series. Multiple entertainment industry sources on May 22 said casting auditions and pre-production are currently underway, with filming scheduled to begin in June. Based on the webtoo...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series Head Over Heels Reveals Trailer
Series will debut in South Korea on June 23
― Korean network tvN has released the first teaser trailer for its upcoming series Head Over Heels, a fantasy romance based on the webtoon of the same name. The youthful first-love story follows 18-year-old high school shaman Seong-ah Park (played by Yi-hyun Jo), who defies fate to save Gyeon-woo Bae (played by Young-woo Choo), a boy destined to die. The s...
Live-Action Webtoon-Based Thriller Series Field Mouse Reveals Netflix Streaming
Kyung-gu Seol, Jun-yeol Ryu will co-star
― Netflix announced on May 20 it will stream the upcoming live-action thriller Field Mouse, based on the Kakao webtoon of the same name. The series stars Kyung-gu Seol and Jun-yeol Ryu. The story follows reclusive novelist Moon-jae, whose life is turned upside down by a mysterious figure known only as "Field Mouse." In a desperate attempt to reclaim what he's...
Netflix's Weak Hero Class 2 Series Tops Netflix's Non-English Series Chart, Sparks Surge in Original Webtoon Viewership
Webtoon recorded 20-fold increase in monthly revenue compared to its post-completion average
― Netflix's Weak Hero Class 2 live-action series based on the webtoon of same name topped Netflix's non-English series' global rankings for the week of April 21-27 (the show debuted on April 25). The show recorded 6.1 million views during that period, calculated by dividing total watch hours by the series' r...
Korean-Animated Film Lost in Starlight Unveils Trailer, Poster
1st Korean-animated film on Netflix about romance between astronaut, musician debuts on May 30
― Lost in Starlight, the first Korean-animated film on Netflix, revealed a new poster and official trailer on May 14. Lost in Starlight, which is directed by Ji-won Han and written by Han and Hyun-joo Kang, features voice performances by Tae-ri Kim and Hong Kyung. Set in the year 2050, Lost in Starlight te...
K-pop Girl Group Billlie Releases Japanese Song for Webtoon Dead Mansion
Dead Mansion shares same universe with Lookism
― K-pop girl group Billlie (members Siyoon, Sheon, Tsuki, Moon Sua, Haram, Suhyeon, and Haruna) have released their first Japanese-language original soundtrack following a Korean version earlier this year. The track, titled "The Savior," was officially released on May 18. Originally introduced in Korean in February, "The Savior" serves as the opening th...
Webtoon Platform Bufftoon to Shut Down After 12 Years
NCSoft, one of the biggest game publishers in Korea, announced end of platform
― NCSoft, one of the biggest game publishers in South Korea, has announced the official closure of its webtoon and web novel platform BUFFTOON, ending a 12-year run. According to a notice posted by the platform's operations team on May 14, BUFFTOON will shut down on December 17, 2025. In preparation for the shutdown, BUFF...
Webtoon Entertainment Reports US$26.6 Million Operating Loss in Q1 Amid Weak Yen, Won
Company marks 1st year-on-year revenue drop since going public in June 2023
― Webtoon Entertainment reported an operating loss of US$26.63 million for the first quarter of 2025, marking a sharp downturn from an operating profit of US$14.19 million in the same period last year. The results were disclosed on May 13. The company also posted a net loss of US$21.97 million, with adjusted EBITDA (Earnings...
Live-Action Adaptation of Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women Webtoon Reveals Main Cast
Series is slated to release in 2026
― Television network JTBC has announced that it will produce the television series adaptation of TARI's Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women webtoon, and has also revealed the main cast. The story of the webtoon follows 33-year-old Eui-young Lee, who finds herself torn between two very different men. One is Tae-seop Song, a stable and unremarkable mid-sized c...
Webtoon Unveils Major Platform Updates for Content Discovery, Personalization
Updates introduce AI-powered recommendations
― WEBTOON Entertainment announced a series of major updates on May 6 to transform how users discover and engage with webcomics. The updates were rolled out across its global platforms on May 8 (including the English-language service). Key updates included: AI-powered personalized recommendations to analyze user onboarding preferences, reading history, and...
Go-eun Kim Returns to Star in Yumi's Cells Season 3 Live-Action Series
Series will premiere in 2026
― TVING, a Korean streaming platform, has officially announced that its original live-action series based on the webtoon Yumi's Cells will return for a third season, with Go-eun Kim reprising her role as Yumi. The upcoming season will continue the “cell-stimulating” romance story, following Yumi's journey as a now-successful writer and the lovable, outspoken cells that l...
Live-Action Study Group Series Based on Webtoon Gets 2nd Season
2nd season is in early development stage
― The webtoon-based live-action series Study Group has officially confirmed a second season. The announcement was made on May 8 through the Q1 2025 earnings report for Studio Dragon, the production company of the series. The company revealed that the second season is in early planning stages. Studio Dragon also hinted at the possibility of exploring new forma...
Reaper Scans Shuts Down Following Legal Action from Kakao Entertainment
Kakao Ent. claims site had approximately 10 million monthly visits
― Reaper Scans, a popular pirate site known for offering unauthorized fan translations of web novels and webtoons, officially announced its permanent closure on May 9. The decision comes after the platform received a cease-and-desist letter from Kakao Entertainment, the parent company of Tapas. The statement from Reaper Scans reads: ...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series Head Over Heels to Premiere in June
1st love story follows 18-year-old high school shaman
― The Korean television network tvN announced on Friday that its new series Head Over Heels will premiere in June. The series is based on the webtoon, Gyeonwoo and Fairy. The youthful first-love story follows 18-year-old high school shaman Seong-ah Park (played by Yi-hyun Jo), who defies fate to save Gyeon-woo Bae (played by Young-woo Choo), a bo...
Live-Action Series Based on Forest of Humans Webtoon Confirmed
Dark thriller centers on correctional facility that gathers psychopathic serial killers for experimental purposes
― Korean business news outlet Money Today reported on May 8 that a live-action series based on the webtoon Forest of Humans is in production, and actress Ye-ji Seo is reportedly considering taking the lead role. Her agency, Sublime, confirmed on May 8 that she has received a casting offe...
Web Novel-Based Korean Live-Action Series Dear Hongrang Premieres on Netflix on May 16
Official English-subtitled trailer, poster were also unveiled for mystery romance series
― Netflix announced on April 30 that the web novel-based mystery romance series Dear Hongrang will premiere on May 16. The service has released an official English-subtitled trailer and a poster. Set in the Joseon Dynasty, the series follows Hongrang (played by Jae-wook Lee), the long-lost son of the kingdom's l...
Horror-Romance Webtoon Red Fox Gets Animated Adaptation Premiering on LAFTEL on May 19
Series follows red fox who feasts on livers of humans
― Korean streaming platform LAFTEL will launch an animated adaptation of the horror-romance webtoon Red Fox on May 19. The company recently unveiled a teaser video, which is age-restricted and only available to watch on YouTube. The story of Red Fox reads: Welcome to Ibana, a beautiful country also known as the red country. Here, lives the red fo...
Live-Action Adaptation of Web Novel, Webtoon Men of the Harem Confirmed
Former K-pop star Suzy considers taking lead role
― Korean entertainment media outlet OSEN exclusively reported on May 12 that Suzy, actress and former member of K-pop girl group Miss A, is currently reviewing an offer to star as the lead in an upcoming live-action adaptation of Men of the Harem. Based on the web novel by author Alphatart, who wrote The Remarried Empress, Men of the Harem is a palac...
Kakao Entertainment Establishes New U.S. Subsidiary
New company will lead Kakao Ent. to strengthen its global presence, explore new business opportunities
― Kakao Entertainment, the parent company of webtoon/web novel platform Tapas, has established a new subsidiary in the United States to strengthen its global presence and explore new business opportunities. The new entity, Kakao Entertainment Global (KEG), is based in Los Angeles, California, and w...
Webtoon-Based Action Noir Live-Action Show Mercy for None to Premiere on Netflix June 6
Streaming company also unveils teaser poster, English-subtitled trailer
― Netflix Korea confirmed on Friday that the action noir show Mercy for None will premiere on June 6. Ji-sub So stars as Ki-joon, alongside Beom-soo Lee, Joon-ho Heo, and Gil-kang Ahn. The streaming company also unveiled the teaser poster, which features Ki-joon standing alone amidst a field of fallen men, blood spatters on the ...
JoongAng, Lotte Groups to Merge Cinema Chains, Forming South Korea's Largest Theater Operator
Merged group will operate 1,682 screens nationwide, surpassing CGV
― JoongAng Group and retail giant Lotte Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to merge their respective cinema chains — Megabox and Lotte Cinema — creating what will become South Korea's largest theatrical exhibition company. The joint venture, which will be co-managed by both groups, is designed to expedite new investment ...
Pinkfong Company Launches Moon Shark Webtoon in English
Romance fantasy series is based on world of Baby Shark
― Pinkfong Company, known globally for the Baby Shark phenomenon, has officially launched Moon Shark: From Underwater Princess to Celebrity in North America. The spin-off webtoon series is now available on five major digital platforms in the U.S., including Manta, Lezhin Comics US, HYPERCOMIC, Dashtoon, and Lalatoon. Moon Shark follows Sid, a sh...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series S Line Wins Best Music at Cannes International Series Festival
Composer Jun-oh Lee receives award
― The webtoon-based live-action mystery series S Line has won the Best Music Award at the 8th Cannes International Series Festival, held on April 29. Composer Jun-oh Lee was recognized in the long-form competition category for his work on the series' soundtrack. This marks the first Korean drama to win at the festival since Bargain received the Best Screenplay Awar...
Naver Webtoon Launches 1st Tower of God Side Story Urek Mazino
Side story reveals Urek's life before entering the Tower
― Naver WEBTOON released Urek Mazino, the first official side story of the webtoon Tower of God, on April 28 in Korea. The new series will be serialized every Tuesday. Written and illustrated by SIU, Urek Mazino explores the untold past of one of Tower of God's most powerful and mysterious characters. As an "Irregular" who entered the Tower on...
Marry My Husband Web Novel, Webtoon Get Japanese Live-Action Adaptation on Amazon in June
Franchise inspired separate Korean live-action series earlier this year
― Amazon Prime Video announced on April 28 that the Korean web novel and webtoon Marry My Husband will get a Japanese live-action series adaptation titled Watashi no Otto to Kekkon Shite. The Amazon Original drama will premiere globally on June 27 and will have 10 episodes. Two episodes will debut every Friday. Amazon described ...
Webtoon Creators' Union to File Complaint Against Kakao Entertainment
Union states company refused to engage in collective bargaining
― The Webtoon Creators' Union in South Korea announced on April 21 that it plans to file a complaint with the Labor Relations Commission against Kakao Entertainment for refusing to engage in collective bargaining. Kakao Entertainment is the parent company of Kakao Webtoon, Tapas, and Kakao Page. According to the union, it submitted a re...
Naver Webtoon Releases AI Chatbot for Webtoon Characters
Company stated AI chatbot boosts viewers' engagement
― Naver WEBTOON reported on April 15 that according to its internal analysis, the service's AI chatbot, 'Character Chat,' which allows users to interact with webtoon characters, is contributing to increased engagement with original works. Character Chat was developed in-house by Naver WEBTOON and launched in June 2024. The AI chatbot is trained on...
Live-Action Adaptation of Martial Arts Webtoon Shark Gets Sequel Series in May
Sequel story follows Woo-sol's evolution from survivor to protector
― Shark: The Storm, based on the webtoon Shark, is set to premiere on May 15 as a six-episode original series on the Korean streaming platform TVING. Ahead of the release, TVING unveiled a new teaser poster highlighting the tense showdown between lead characters played by Min-seok Kim and Hyun-wook Lee. Shark: The Storm, which is th...
232 Draws 4-Panel Webtoon for K-Pop Group TXT
Love Revolution creator draws webtoon for group's upcoming single "Love Language"
― Tomorrow X Together (TXT) reunited with webtoon artist 232, known for Love Revolution, for a new collaboration titled "TXT's Lovetoons." The four-panel comic strip, featuring artwork by 232, was released on April 24 via TXT's official social media accounts. This marks the second collaboration between TXT and 232. In ...
Live-Action Adaptation of Romance Webtoon Back to Work! is Confirmed
Back to Work!, created by McQueen Studio, follows romance between office mates
― Korean entertainment media outlet SPOTV reported on Thursday that the live-action adaptation of the romance webtoon Back to Work! is confirmed. The production team revealed that they offered the male lead to actor In-guk Seo. Back to Work!, created by McQueen Studio, follows the romance between office mates. The story d...
Kakao Ent. Rolls Out AI-Generated Webtoon Shorts to All Users
New "Helix Shorts" AI-powered service automatically generates video shorts based on webtoons
― Kakao Entertainment officially launched "Helix Shorts," a new AI-powered service that automatically generates short-form video content based on webtoons, on April 22. The company announced that the rollout is now complete across all KakaoPage users. Helix Shorts converts webtoons into short videos (shorts)...
WEBTOON Entertainment Partners with PlayStation to Launch Cross-Platform Subscription Campaign
WEBTOON subscribers receive 2 complimentary weeks of PlayStation Plus
― WEBTOON Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it has entered a marketing partnership with PlayStation. Starting on Tuesday, PlayStation Plus Premium users gained access to a WEBTOON subscription on the platform's English-language service. In return, WEBTOON subscribers—particularly readers of titles like Omniscient Reader, Bad ...
Jujutsu Kaisen Tops Bookscan's March Adult Graphic Novel List in U.S.
Solo Leveling takes 5 spots; One Piece, Berserk, Apothecary Diaries, more rank
― The 25th volume of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga ranked at #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for March. This month's list featured 12 manga volumes, including: #1 — Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 25
#3 — Eiichiro Oda's One Piece volume 108
#7 — Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 1
#8...
Live-Action The Remarried Empress Adaptation Reveals Main Cast
Adaptation of webtoon with 2.6 billion views to star Min-a Shin, Jong-suk Lee, more
― Studio N, a subsidiary of Naver Webtoon, confirmed the live-action series adaptation of The Remarried Empress webtoon on April 14 along with the main cast. Actress Min-a Shin will play Navier, the dignified empress with a cold demeanor. Jong-suk Lee will portray Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom, who falls for ...
Live-Action Adaptation of Webtoon The First Night with the Duke to Premiere on June 11
Taecyeon, Seohyun star in series
― KBS, the public broadcasting system in Korea, has confirmed that its new series The First Night With the Duke will premiere on June 11. Based on the webtoon and web novel of the same name, the fantasy romance series follows a college student who wakes up and finds she has possessed a minor background character within a romance novel. After unexpectedly spending a n...
Ize Press Announces English Print Releases of The Merman Trapped in My Lake, I Love Amy
I Love Amy marks Ize Press' 1st girls-love release
― At its industry panel on Friday during Sakura-Con 2025, Ize Press announced that it will publish English print editions of two manhwa: The Merman Trapped in My Lake and I Love Amy (pictured above). The Merman Trapped in My Lake, illustrated by R.PPOBI and based on an original story by Mitchu, follows Servaine Noxirel, the last heir of a fallen nob...
LINE Manga App Becomes Top-Grossing App in Japan in 1st Quarter 2025
App is celebrating 12th anniversary
― According to mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower, LINE Manga — Naver Webtoon's Japanese-language service — ranked No. 1 in total app market revenue in Japan in the first quarter of 2025. This milestone comes as the platform celebrates its 12th anniversary, having launched in 2013. LINE Manga first overtook Kakao Piccoma's digital manga and novel platform Piccoma ...
Delusion Webtoon Gets Live-Action Adaptation
Suzy, Sun-ho Kim will lead cast
― According to a report from Korean entertainment outlet OSEN on April 10, actors Suzy and Sun-ho Kim have been cast in a live-action adaptation of the webtoon Delusion. Delusion was created by Hongjacga and originally serialized in Korea from 2019 to 2020, followed by a U.S. release in 2021. Set during the early 20th century under Japanese colonial rule in Korea, the...
Kakao Ent. Co-CEOs Deny Reports of Company's Sale, Claim Reports are 'Misunderstanding'
Statement follows media reports last week that Kakao plans to sell Kakao Entertainment subsidiary
― Korean business media outlet Hankook Economy reported on April 8 that Kakao, one of the biggest tech companies in Korea, has signaled its intention to sell its subsidiary Kakao Entertainment, stepping away from its long-held plan to take the company public. According to investment banking sources, Kak...
Manta Launches Romance Webtoon Her Merry Obsession
Manta also offers promotional event
― Manta launched its new romance webtoon Her Merry Obsession on April 10. The series is based on a novel of the same name by MOOMI (Dry Fish Girl), also known for writing the original work behind the Netflix Original Series When the Phone Rings. Artwork for the webtoon is provided by 18.9Studio. Manta describes the story: For two blissful years, Soryung's world re...
WEBTOON Entertainment to Join NAB Show 2025 Panel on Webcomics
Discussion topics will include the growth of fandoms across genres and the rise in webcomic and webnovel adaptations
― WEBTOON Entertainment announced on April 3 that it will participate in a panel discussion at NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas, focusing on the role of webcomics in entertainment and IP development. The session, titled “Hollywood's IP Gold Mine: Comics, Fandoms and Creators Building New Wor...
Manta's Parent Company Ridi Posts Operating Loss for 2024 But Marks Record-High Revenue
Company attributes reduced deficit, revenue growth to expansion of its global business
― RIDI, the parent company of webtoon platform Manta, announced on April 3 that it posted an operating loss of 12.9 billion KRW (approx. US$8.8 million) on a consolidated basis in 2024, down 56.2% from the previous year. Revenue rose 7.2% year-over-year to a record high of 235.4 billion KRW (approx. US$161 million...
Inklore to Publish Webtoon How to Hide the Emperor's Child in Print
Series will begin publication in 2026
― Inklore, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, announced on Thursday that it acquired the print publication rights to the webtoon How to Hide the Emperor's Child from C&C Revolution. The webtoon How to Hide the Emperor's Child, which is drawn by SSAL and adapted by 26, is based Yeonseon Lee's web novel of the same name. The webtoon has amassed over ...
CloverWorks Produces Anime Shorts for 7Fates: Chakho, The Star Seekers Webtoons
HYBE's original webtoon series feature members of BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER as characters in story
― Anime studio CloverWorks began streaming two anime shorts on Thursday adapting HYBE's The Star Seekers webtoon and HYBE's 7FATES: CHAKHO webtoon. Each short is around 11 minutes long, and features an original story. Both videos feature hard subtitles in Korean. (Note: CloverWorks has disabled embedding...
Premiere of Webtoon-Based Live-Action Romance Series Crushology 101 Delayed by 1 Week
Delay comes in response to ruling on S. Korean president's impeachment on Friday
― The premiere of Crushology 101, the live-action Korean romance series based on the webtoon Bunny and Her Oppas, has been postponed by one week. According to SPOTV News on April 2, the series, originally scheduled to air on April 4 in Korea, will now premiere on April 11. The delay comes in response to the Constitution...
Webtoon-Based Live-Action Series S Line Invited to Cannes International Series Festival
Story centers on incident where mysterious red lines appear connecting those who have had sexual relationship
― The webtoon-based live-action mystery series S Line has been officially invited to the competition section at the Cannes International Series Festival, becoming the only Korean content selected in the category this year. According to the festival's announcement on Tuesday, S Line is one of...
Netflix Confirms Live-Action Weak Hero Class 2 Series to Premiere on April 25
Series reveals official trailer, poster
― On April 1, Netflix announced that the live-action Weak Hero Class 2 sequel series based on a webtoon will premiere on April 25. Along with the announcement, the platform also released the series' official poster and teaser trailer. Netflix began streaming Weak Hero Class 1 on March 25, and the series quickly gained popularity. According to Netflix's officia...
Under the Oak Tree Webtoon Concludes Season 4
Series planned to end in Season 5 to finish adapting Book 1 of web novel
― Manta has announced that the fourth season of its webtoon Under the Oak Tree concluded with the release of the final episode on March 22. Based on the webnovel by Su-ji Kim, Under the Oak Tree follows Lady Maximilian, a young noblewoman who is forced into marriage with a knight, Sir Riftan. Shortly after their wedding, Riftan...
'The Story of Manager Kim, Who Works For a Large Company in Seoul' Webtoon Gets Live-Action Series
Seung-ryong Ryu takes on lead role in upcoming series
― Korean broadcasting studio JTBC confirmed on April 1 that Seung-ryong Ryu will take on the lead role in its upcoming live-action series The Story of Manager Kim, Who Works For a Large Company in Seoul adaptation of the Naver webtoon of the same name. The drama centers around Nam-soo Kim, a straight-laced, middle-aged man who appears to be living...
Live-Action Korean Web Series Something Went Wrong to Premiere Globally on April 16
Series is spin-off of webtoon "Who Can Define Popularity?"
― The live-action web series Something Went Wrong will make its global debut on April 16, bringing its new take on the popular boys-love universe to international audiences. The series is a spin-off of the webtoon Who Can Define Popularity?, and centers around two supporting characters from the original story — Ba-woo Do (played by Min-ho Ch...
Yumi's Cells Live-Action Series Based on Webtoon Confirmed for Season 3
Go-eun Kim reviews offer to return for 3rd season
― The webtoon-based romance live-action series Yumi's Cells has officially been confirmed for a third season. Yumi's Cells follows the everyday life and emotional growth of an ordinary woman named Yumi, uniquely told through the perspectives of the tiny cells inside her brain. The series stands out for its imaginative storytelling and relatable slice...
Korean Gaming Company Com2uS Secures Publishing Rights for Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Game
Art director of The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross mobile game will work on game
― Com2uS announced on March 31 that it has made a strategic investment in South Korean game developer Offbeat and signed a global publishing agreement for the company's upcoming game based on the hit IP Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. The original story of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint follows an ordinary office worker w...
Studio Lico Releases Mobile Game Mythic Item Obtained Based on Webtoon (Updated)
Webtoon has amassed more than 320 million views
― On March 28, Naver Webtoon announced the official launch of the mobile idle RPG game Mythic Item Obtained, developed by its subsidiary Studio Lico. The game is based on the webtoon Mythic Item Obtained, which is adapted from the web novel of the same name. The webtoon began serialization in 2022 and has accumulated over 320 million views globally. Th...
Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women Webtoon Confirmed for Live-Action Adaptation
Sstory follows woman who is torn between 2 very different men
― According to Korean news agency Newsis, a live-action adaptation of the webtoon Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women has officially entered production. Casting is currently underway, with offers reportedly made to actors Ji-min Han and Sung-hoon Park, who appeared in Squid Game season 2. The story follows 33-year-old office worker ...
Naver Webtoon Joins Anti-Piracy Coalition ACE
Company is the 1st webtoon company to join coalition
― The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) announced on March 25 that NAVER WEBTOON has joined as its newest member. NAVER WEBTOON, part of WEBTOON Entertainment Inc., is the first webcomic and webnovel company, and the first Korea-based company, to become a member of ACE. WEBTOON Entertainment, headquartered in Los Angeles and listed o...
Production of Webtoon-Based Live-Action Thriller Series Dear X Delayed Due to Injury of Actor Do-hoon Kim
Actor was diagnosed with a 24-week recovery period
― The filming of the live-action series Dear X has been put on hold after actor Do-hoon Kim suffered a serious injury on set. According to Korean entertainment media outlet Sports Chosun, Kim fractured his left forearm while practicing motorcycle riding during a break in filming last week. The accident occurred as he attempted a short ride and lost ...
Toonimotion Releases Animated Series Based on BL Webtoon Robber X Lover
Webtoon follows unexpected cohabitation story of college student
― Toonimotion released an animated adaptation of the boys-love webtoon Robber X Lover on March 26. Based on the webtoon of same name drawn by PENGKI, the animation premiered on Toonimotion's website with English subtitles. Robber X Lover follows the unexpected cohabitation story of a college student named Jiho. After missing the deadli...
Korea Fair Trade Commission Uses AI Tools to Make Webtoon for Public Outreach
Government agency uses Stable Diffusion to produce webtoon
― The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), the government agency promoting fair and free competition, announced on March 26 that it is actively leveraging generative AI technologies to produce content and enhance the effectiveness of its public outreach. The KFTC is currently publishing a weekly webtoon series titled Fair Diary on its officia...
Live-Action Japanese True Beauty Films Preview 2nd Film in Video, Poster
2nd film featuring insert song by star Keito Tsuna opens 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 a poster visual and trailer on Friday for the second film, After Proposal-hen. The video previews both Ke...
Naver Webtoon Adapts 2 Short Stories by Author Young-ha Kim
Si illustrates "The Origin of Life," "Christmas Carol" stories
― Naver Webtoon launched webtoon adaptations of two short stories by Korean author Young-ha Kim. Young-ha Kim's Short Story Collection premiered on Tuesday. The webtoons are based on "The Origin of Life" and "Christmas Carol," originally published in Kim's short story collections Two People Only and My Brother's Back, respectively. "The O...
The Kidnapping Day Novel/Live-Action Series Gets Webtoon
Webtoon adaptation launched on March 13
― The Kidnapping Day novel and live-action series expanded its IP universe with a new webtoon adaptation that launched on March 13 exclusively on RIDI. Unlike the original novel and drama, the webtoon introduces a fresh narrative perspective by focusing on Hye-eun Seo—a character previously portrayed as a villain. The story delves into her childhood, the origin...
TappyToon to Launch How The Grand Duchess Returns to Her Tower Webtoon on March 31
Story based on 2022 romance fantasy web novel
― TappyToon announced on Tuesday that it will launch the webtoon How the Grand Duchess Returns to Her Tower on March 31. Based on a 2022 web novel of the same name, the webtoon begins when the former master of a magic tower awakens in the body of a grand duchess—betrayed by her own disciple whom she had raised like a younger sibling. As she struggles to r...
New Spin-off of Webtoon/Web Novel God of Blackfield Launches
New series expands lore with high-stakes clashes between multiple powerful factions
― A new spin-off of the webtoon/web novel God of Blackfield has officially launched. Kakao Entertainment announced on March 24 that it has begun serialization of a new web novel titled The Black – Falcon of Arabia on KakaoPage. The story follows the search for a covert agent from the secret organization The Black, wh...
Kakao Entertainment Teams Up with Instagram Star Jjonyami for New Webtoon Series
Story follows white cat character sent to Earth on secret mission
― Kakao Entertainment is launching a new webtoon collaboration with Jjonyami, the beloved Instagram character. The webtoon, titled Jjonyami: Mission Earth!, will premiere on April 25 via Kakao Webtoon and KakaoPage. Created by artist Chae-so, the adorable white cat Jjonyami is known for its hearty appetite and playful charm, attractin...
KOMACON Unveils Support Program for Senior and Physically Challenged Creators
The agency is aiming to broaden the cultural reach.
― The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) has announced its major support programs for 2025, aimed at advancing the manhwa and webtoon industry and broadening cultural reach. One of the key initiatives this year is the Webtoon Senior Mentoring Program, which will run year-round. The program is designed to strengthen webtoon creation skills among...
Medical Comedy Webtoon Endurance Doctor Gets Live-Action Adaptation
The series will depict the struggle of a doctor on a remote island.
― Korean entertainment media OSEN revealed that Kim Tae-pung's Endurance Doctor (Jonbuh Doctor) webtoon is getting a live-action adaptation. Actor Jae-wook Lee will take on his first-ever doctor role as the lead, Ji-ui Do, the plastic surgeon struggling to survive island life. Myung-woo Lee (The Fiery Priest) is directing the series,...
Webtoon Platform Bomtoon Launches Simultaneous Serialization in 8 Languages Including English
Bomtoon to support 8 languages
― Bomtoon announced last Thursday that it will begin simultaneous webtoon serialization in eight languages—Korean, Traditional Chinese, Thai, Japanese, English, Spanish, German, and French—on a monthly basis to support global expansion for webtoon creators. A Bomtoon representative stated, "As the webtoon market rapidly globalizes, it has become increasingly important t...
Heesu in Class 2 BL Webtoon's Live-Action Adaptation Premieres on March 28
Webtoon boasted 9.7+ rating on Lezhin Comics
― The Korean streaming platform for Boys-Love shows Heavenly announced on Saturday that the live-action adaptation of BL webtoon Heesu in Class 2 will premiere on March 28. Sang-jun Lee (who played a guard on Squid Game season 2) stars as Seung-won Kim, an intense student who hates wasting time and is fully committed to getting into college. While he seems...
KOCCA Launches 2025 Startup Support Program for Manhwa, Webtoons
KOCCA will provide up to US$75,000
― Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) announced its “2025 Startup Support Program for the Manhwa and Webtoon Sector,” which aims to help early-stage companies with creative ideas and technology successfully enter the market. The program will run from the date of agreement signing until November 30, 2025, selecting a total of eight projects for funding. Selected st...
Netflix's Live-Action Webtoon-Based Series Karma Unveils New Trailer, Poster
Heesun Choi drew original series
― Netflix Korea streamed released on March 19 a new official trailer and poster for Kakao Entertainment's upcoming live-action series Karma, based on the webtoon of the same name. In the trailer, 'Loan Shark Man' (Hee-jun Lee) requests a murder after confirming a 500 million won (about US$340,000) insurance policy, 'Joo-yeon' (Min-a Shin) confronts someone who brought...
Netflix Confirms Cast of Get Schooled Webtoon's Live-Action Adaptation True Lessons
Moo-yul Kim, Sung-min Lee, Ki-yoo Jin, Ji-hoon Pyo star
― Netflix confirmed last Thursday the production of its new original series True Lessons (working title), based on the webtoon Get Schooled, and announced the lead cast lineup. Moo-yul Kim plays Hwa-jin Na, a Teacher Rights Protection Bureau supervisor who resolves school issues with his own methods. Sung-min Lee stars as Kang-seok Choi, the Min...
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