Kakao Entertainment will integrate KakaoPage and KakaoWebtoon, centering the merger around KakaoPage. This strategy aims to consolidate the previously fragmented story platforms in South Korea, gathering content and user data while strengthening its intellectual property (IP) business. The company will also end operations of the North American webtoon platform Tapas, further restructuring its story business.
On September 22, Kakao announced that it will provide detailed information about the service integration to KakaoPage and KakaoWebtoon users on September 29. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
After the integration, KakaoPage will offer content from both platforms, including webtoons and web novels, in one location. Kakao Entertainment plans to utilize approximately 16,000 original story IPs and user data, such as content usage history and subscription types, to enhance its services.
The company intends to refine service features, including content recommendations, based on user data. By merging the separate platforms for webtoons and web novels, users will have the opportunity to explore and subscribe to a wider variety of content.
KakaoPage and KakaoWebtoon have expanded their businesses in the domestic story content market through different approaches. KakaoPage has grown into a comprehensive content platform, offering web novels, webtoons, comics, and books, including the 'Noble Comics' that adapts web novels into webtoons.
KakaoWebtoon has introduced original webtoons based on a network of creators and content planning and production capabilities inherited from its predecessor, Daum Webtoon. Kakao Entertainment has also been expanding webtoon IP into other formats, such as video content.
The integration is expected to lead to a reorganization of the story business at the Kakao Group level. Kakao Entertainment plans to coordinate the roles of each company in content production and distribution by linking its story IP with Kakao Piccoma's overseas platform capabilities.
Changes are also anticipated in the North American market. Kakao Entertainment has decided to discontinue the services of the webtoon platform Tapas, which it acquired in 2021.
The Kakao branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union stated that it must provide sufficient explanations to its members and users regarding the termination of the Tapas business and establish responsible follow-up measures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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