Naver Webtoon Invests in Japanese Digital Comics Agency

First Investment in a Local Webtoon Studio in Japan

Line Digital Frontier, which operates the Japanese language service of Naver Webtoon, announced on the 16th that it has invested in shares of the local digital comic agency Number Nine Inc.

Line Digital Frontier, which operates Naver Webtoon's Japanese service, and Number Nine Co., Ltd., a Japanese electronic comic agency CI. Provided by Naver Webtoon

Number Nine Inc., established in Japan in 2016, started with digital comic brokerage services and has recently expanded its business area to a webtoon production studio. The webtoons produced by Number Nine Inc., "Shinhyeol-ui Guseju" and "Naman Choegang Chowolja," gained great popularity last year by ranking in the top 10 of the "Line Manga 2024 Ranking." These works are being serviced in Korean, English, French, and other languages through Naver Webtoon's global service.

This investment is the first by Webtoon Entertainment, the parent company of Line Digital Frontier, in a studio producing webtoons locally in Japan. Webtoon Entertainment plans to further expand the creative ecosystem that led to Naver Webtoon's successful global market entry in Japan, strengthening its leadership in global storytelling content.

Kim Jung-gu, CEO of Webtoon Entertainment and Naver Webtoon, said, "Efforts to build a creative ecosystem in Japan are leading to solid growth in the Japanese business and the production of hit works," adding, "We expect that the two companies, which made 'Shinhyeol-ui Guseju' a global hit, will expand their partnership to present competitive works to readers worldwide."

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