Online comic books, called "webtoons" in Korean, have been around for at least a decade. People of all ages and sexes use their hand-held gadgets to watch and read digital comic strips while commuting or during their spare time. Experts agree that the key behind the instant popularity of such digital comics includes the widespread use of smartphones, access to high-speed Internet, creative and engaging plotlines, publishing speeds and a variety of graphic technologies.
The merits of Korean web comics are now being recognized by neighboring countries from around the world. For some time now, Tencent's QQ, a Chinese online content provider, has been publishing "Undead King," a Korean comic. It's now the third most popular comic series among those offered at Tencent, and it has earned the company around KRW 5 million per month since its launch about six months ago.
Tencent is not alone. Korean comic strips have spread across mainland China through social networking services like Sina Weibo, through communications corporations and through publishing companies. "Space China Dress," currently being published at Sina Weibo, is receiving as many as 30 million clicks per day. There are also "Seven Princesses," "Greatly Secretly" and "0.0MHz," among others, all Korean comic strips that are gaining more and more attention in the Chinese comic market.
In addition, such Internet-based comic strips show signs of being consumed across a number of different platforms.
Mileland, the company that brought "Undead King" to China, is currently in negotiations with Chinese companies to produce video games with the characters from "Undead King." A spokesperson for the firm said that they have been approached numerous times to license their characters and to produce web-based soap operas and movies.
Online comic books are popular in North America, too. Manga Fox, one of the largest U.S. comic providers, recently started publishing a number of Korea-made comics in English, including "Noblesse," "Tower of God" and "God of High school." These are comparable to the Japanese comics strips "Naruto" and "Attack on Titan." Those popular comics were made into TV shows and movies, building upon their wide fan base.
Seeing a ray of possibility, Korean content providers have begun their move to expand their global services. Naver, a search engine, will host events in North America in search of local writers. Four finalists will be given the chance to officially publish their series through Naver and a prize of USD 30,000.
Finally, Tapastic, a company that first introduced web comics at a 2012 North American comic fair, announced that it is planning to discuss with Hollywood agencies the utilization of online comic strip materials in TV shows and movies.
By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
slee27@korea.kr
The merits of Korean web comics are now being recognized by neighboring countries from around the world. For some time now, Tencent's QQ, a Chinese online content provider, has been publishing "Undead King," a Korean comic. It's now the third most popular comic series among those offered at Tencent, and it has earned the company around KRW 5 million per month since its launch about six months ago.
Digital comic strips such as 'Undead King' (left) and 'Space China Dress' have been gaining worldwide attention in recent years.
Tencent is not alone. Korean comic strips have spread across mainland China through social networking services like Sina Weibo, through communications corporations and through publishing companies. "Space China Dress," currently being published at Sina Weibo, is receiving as many as 30 million clicks per day. There are also "Seven Princesses," "Greatly Secretly" and "0.0MHz," among others, all Korean comic strips that are gaining more and more attention in the Chinese comic market.
In addition, such Internet-based comic strips show signs of being consumed across a number of different platforms.
Mileland, the company that brought "Undead King" to China, is currently in negotiations with Chinese companies to produce video games with the characters from "Undead King." A spokesperson for the firm said that they have been approached numerous times to license their characters and to produce web-based soap operas and movies.
Online comic books are popular in North America, too. Manga Fox, one of the largest U.S. comic providers, recently started publishing a number of Korea-made comics in English, including "Noblesse," "Tower of God" and "God of High school." These are comparable to the Japanese comics strips "Naruto" and "Attack on Titan." Those popular comics were made into TV shows and movies, building upon their wide fan base.
Seeing a ray of possibility, Korean content providers have begun their move to expand their global services. Naver, a search engine, will host events in North America in search of local writers. Four finalists will be given the chance to officially publish their series through Naver and a prize of USD 30,000.
Finally, Tapastic, a company that first introduced web comics at a 2012 North American comic fair, announced that it is planning to discuss with Hollywood agencies the utilization of online comic strip materials in TV shows and movies.
By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
slee27@korea.kr
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