K-Content News

South Korea aims to become one of the top four content giants in the world by 2027. After placing itself on top for dramas and pop music, the next ambition is the webtoon industry. Shin Se-byuck reports.

The K-Content industry has emerged as a major export powerhouse in South Korea, with Korean dramas and movies finding great success abroad. The country is now seeking to become one of the world's top four content giants by 2027. As part of these efforts, the government is now shifting its focus to the potential of "webtoons."

Data from the Korea Creative Content Agency shows the value of K-Content exports reached over 13-point-3 billion dollars in 2022. Cartoons accounted for only zero-point-8 percent of that amount. However, the cartoon sector saw remarkable growth with a 30 percent on-year increase, making it one of the top three fastest-growing segments in the content industry. An expert says what makes webtoons particularly significant is their use as source material for various screen adaptations.

"In the past, novels and comics served as the foundation for a variety of cultural content. Nowadays, webtoons and web novels, which captivate the younger generation, have taken on the role. And now, these are being exported worldwide."

To foster the webtoon industry further, the Seoul metropolitan government has launched educational initiatives to nurture webtoon creators and producers.

"The core strength of K-Content lies in the creativity of its creators. Nurturing that creativity requires providing them with the right talents and a platform to unleash their creative potential."

Through these courses, students have the opportunity to develop their competitiveness as webtoon creators.

"I received valuable feedback and advice from many mentors, which helped me objectively assess my skills."

"The class has taught me how to direct webtoons, understand illustrations better, and create trendier comics."

South Korea's well-established web environment also allows it to create more engaging content than other countries.

"South Korea's highly digitalized environment further facilitates collaboration between creators."

However, he also expressed concerns about potential diplomatic issues that may arise when exporting webtoons or K-content, as some content could touch on sensitive topics. To that end, the expert said the government has to take on a role beyond just providing financial support, acting as a mediator to address these issues.

Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.