Illegal Webtoon Site 'Newtoki' Abruptly Shuts Down... "All Data Deleted"

'Newtoki', the largest illegal webtoon site in South Korea, has abruptly and voluntarily shut down its services. On April 27, the operator of Newtoki posted a notice on the homepage announcing the termination of services for Newtoki, Manatoki, and Booktoki.

In the announcement, the operator expressed gratitude to all users, stating, "We sincerely thank all our members for using our services thus far." The operator added, "This page will remain accessible until midnight today, after which it will be automatically closed." The notice also stated, "All data generated during service usage will be deleted in bulk."

The operator made it clear that "there are absolutely no plans to resume the service in the future," and cautioned, "Any sites using similar names from now on are impersonation sites unrelated to our service, so please be careful."

Screenshot of Newtokki homepage

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'Newtoki' has been the largest illegal webtoon distribution site in South Korea, distributing a range of illegal content including webtoons (Newtoki), web novels (Booktoki), and Japanese comics (Manatoki). The combined monthly traffic (number of visits) to these sites exceeds 100 million, and the estimated damages amounted to 40 billion won as of 2024.

While access to content on the site was free, it is believed that the operators generated significant profits mainly by displaying advertisements for adult content and illegal gambling. The operator is a Korean national who reportedly naturalized as a Japanese citizen in 2022. In response, the comics and webtoon industries organized petition drives and rallies, urging the Japanese government to extradite the operator.

Meanwhile, the shutdown of the site occurred just two weeks prior to the government's implementation of an emergency blockade system targeting illegal copyright-infringing sites. As a result, industry insiders interpret Newtoki's swift termination of services as a reaction to the government's announced hardline stance against illegal copyright-infringing platforms.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism previously announced that, following an amendment to the Copyright Act, it will implement the 'Emergency Blockade and Access Restriction System for Illegal Sites' starting May 11, allowing authorities to immediately block illegal sites without a complicated review process. After the amendment, copyright violators may face up to seven years in prison or fines of up to 100 million won.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young commented on Newtoki's voluntary shutdown, saying, "This is a circumstance suggesting an admission of illegality," but emphasized, "It cannot serve as a pardon for crimes already committed."

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