"New Hallyu Content Webtoons, Future Prospects"…Korea Manhwa Contents Agency to Host 'World Webtoon Forum' on 23rd

Analysis of Global Market Trends in Webtoons
Discussion on Domestic and International Copyright Protection of Korean Manhwa

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency will hold the '2020 World Webtoon Forum' on the 23rd to analyze the global market trends of manhwa webtoons, which are rapidly growing as representative contents of the New Korean Wave, and to forecast their future.

The forum, co-hosted with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, invites experts in the manhwa industry as speakers to analyze recent webtoon trends and explore future changes and development directions of manhwa content through cases combined with new technologies.

In particular, the forum will present alternatives from the government, industry, and creators regarding the current status of illegally distributed Korean manhwa overseas and copyright protection.

The forum is organized into three sessions under the theme of 'Analysis of Global Manhwa Webtoon Market Trends and Future Prospects.' Additionally, as a bridge performance between sessions, a collaborative drawing show by artist Kim Doha and Nobrain’s Lee Seongwoo will be held, focusing on the perseverance and passion of creators completing their works despite adversity.

In the first session titled 'Manhwa, the Future of Korean Contents. Manhwa Saves,' three overseas speakers?Park Jonggeun, CEO of Comico Thailand, Zhang Xianfeng, Vice President of Guangzhou Comicfan, and Kuo-Yu Kiang, General Director of New York Comic Con?will introduce changes and trends in the global manhwa market, including the current status and prospects of the Korean webtoon market in Thailand, the size, consumption patterns, and channels of China’s comic & animation market, and the latest trends in the US content market and cultural development.

The second session, themed 'Finding the Success of K-Webtoon in OSMU,' will focus on cases of manhwa IP business.

Artist Kim Seongmo will introduce webtoon serialization using SNS and the activities and prospects of YouTubers, while Kim Yuchang, Director of Usual Media, will present successful cases of global IP business.

Additionally, Jeon Byungjin, CEO of SS Animation, will discuss the animation case of 'Ghost Signal,' Kim Youngjoong, CEO of YJ, will cover the drama case of 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?', and Moon Seokhwan, CEO of Bon Factory, will talk about the webtoon-based drama 'True Beauty' in a talk show format live broadcast.

The final session, titled 'Manhwa, the Future of Korean Contents. Copyright Protection is Life!' will be led by manhwa story writer Bae Ilhwan, where speakers will present domestic and international copyright protection cases and policies in a one-on-one format.

Choi Itaek, Secretary General of the Overseas Copyright Promotion Association, will discuss the current status and countermeasures of overseas copyright infringement related to webtoons; Yoo Daegyeol, CEO of MW Story, will talk about copyright protection technology and webtoons; Jung Minsu, Legal Team Leader of Lezhin Comics, will present the current status of copyright infringement response in webtoon services; and Kwon Hyojin, Inspector at Busan Police Agency, will report on the crackdown progress and plans for illegal webtoon internet sites, covering various topics related to copyright.

Shin Jongcheol, President of the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, stated, "The forum will predict changes in the global manhwa market with timely and specialized topics such as webtoon IP and copyright, analyze domestic manhwa and webtoon trends this year, and suggest future development directions for the content industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.