Korean webtoon popularity worldwide 2023

Webtoons are becoming more popular globally, with almost 30 percent of respondents in a survey conducted in various countries stating that webtoons were popular among enthusiasts only, while almost 24 percent answered they were popular among the general public as well. 
Webtoons are South Korean online comics that can be consumed using the service’s website or mobile application. As the South Korean webtoon market continues to grow, it is also expanding overseas.

How do webtoons reach overseas markets?

While the consumer can access webtoons via the services’ mobile applications easily, the export of webtoon content to other countries is usually executed by South Korean agencies. These agencies account for a large share of businesses in the webtoon industry, being overtaken only by the webtoon planning and production sector.

Webtoon’s popularity in other countries 

Multiple webtoon services, such as Naver Webtoon and Kakao Webtoon, have launched their platforms in various countries, utilizing translations to make it more accessible for foreign readers. South Korean webtoons were very popular in other Asian countries, especially in Indonesia and India. Although many webtoons can be read for free, the intention to consume webtoons as paid content was rather high in Asian countries. Along with the increasing popularity of webtoons, TV series adaptations are also gaining a larger audience thanks to streaming services.