SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Naver Webtoon can no longer be seen as an exotic newcomer from Korea after its standout showing at the 2025 New York Comic Con (NYCC), held at the Javits Center in New York City from Oct. 9 to 12.
One of the largest pop culture conventions in the United States, NYCC celebrates comics, graphic novels, animation, film, and television, drawing more than 200,000 fans from around the world each year.
Webtoon's presence this year embodied everything the event stands for. Its growing partnership portfolio now includes global entertainment powerhouses such as the Walt Disney Company and U.S. comic publisher BOOM! Studios, giving it a commanding place alongside the world's most influential creative players.
Marking its second consecutive appearance at NYCC, Webtoon showcased a vibrant lineup featuring characters from original series like "Teenage Mercenary" and "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint," as well as popular IP collaborations with its North American publishing partners. The booth captivated visitors with immersive visuals, diverse art styles, and interactive storytelling experiences.
Just two years ago, Webtoon's footprint at NYCC was virtually nonexistent. The sight of the platform's massive exhibition booth this year underscored how quickly its influence has expanded across North America, evolving from niche curiosity to mainstream force.
According to Korea's Comic Industry White Paper, the U.S. e-comic market reached $1.87 billion in 2023, nearly double its size in 2018. Although post-pandemic consumption slowed slightly, online readership remains robust.
Naver Webtoon owes much of its momentum to the U.S. market, which now accounts for around 20 million monthly active users — about 70 percent of its global readership. Its 2024 Nasdaq debut, which saw shares jump 10 percent on the first day of trading, symbolized not just investor confidence but the global recognition of Korean digital storytelling.
Beyond the numbers, Webtoon continues to nurture a broad creative ecosystem. It runs open platforms that empower amateur artists and hosts international contests to discover new voices, enabling creators to shape stories that resonate within their own cultural contexts.
The company now counts 26 million creators and over 64 million works worldwide, spanning genres from romance to mythology. Among its biggest success stories is "Lore Olympus," a breakout hit that swept the Harvey, Ringo, and Eisner Awards — the comic industry's top honors — all in the same year, marking a first for a webtoon.
Fortune Business Insights projects that the global webtoon market will grow from $8.5 billion in 2025 to $13.7 billion by 2032, reflecting expanding demand for serialized digital storytelling.
Webtoon Entertainment's second-quarter revenue climbed to $348 million, up 8.5 percent year-on-year, while operating losses narrowed by nearly 90 percent, signaling that the platform's global expansion is beginning to translate into profitability.
"Japan and North America are our twin engines," a company spokesperson said. "We'll expand creator partnerships and build a stronger ecosystem in the U.S. The story of Webtoon has only just begun."
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