News from KComicsBeat, a website specialising in Korean comics and webtoon news (Image from KComicsBeat)
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant development for the Korean comics industry, a new website exclusively dedicated to news about Korean comics and webtoons has been launched in North America, a market once considered barren ground for the medium.
The website, named KComicsBeat, is a collaboration between ComicsBeat, a well-established comics news outlet with a 20-year presence in the English-speaking world, and Tapas Entertainment, the North American branch of Kakao Entertainment.
Launched on August 1, KComicsBeat serves as a sister site to ComicsBeat. It aims to be a comprehensive platform offering the latest news, interviews with creators and industry insiders, and reviews focused on Korean comics and webtoons.
The site is led by ComicsBeat founder Heidi MacDonald and comics expert Deb Aoki, with Tapas Entertainment acting as the sponsor.
Notably, ComicsBeat chose to create a dedicated site for Korean comics before launching similar platforms for Japanese manga or anime, highlighting the growing influence of Korean content in the global comics market.
ComicsBeat has also started a weekly newsletter featuring Korean comics and webtoon news, with plans to launch a separate newsletter for Japanese manga and anime in the future.
In a promotional video, MacDonald explained the motivation behind the new site: “While running ComicsBeat, we realized that Korean comics and webtoons would become one of the most crucial parts of the future of comics.”
She also noted the site’s intention to cover Korean entertainment and pop culture, particularly as webtoons increasingly inspire K-dramas and TV shows.
Despite being sponsored by Tapas Entertainment, KComicsBeat plans to cover news from across the Korean comics and webtoon industry, not limited to any specific platform.
A representative from Tapas Entertainment expressed optimism about the new venture, stating, “We aim to not only provide a platform for K-comics enthusiasts but also foster a vibrant community where fans can discover and appreciate the unique world of Korean comics.”
An industry insider commented on the significance of the launch, saying, “ComicsBeat is a highly recognized outlet among English-speaking comic readers.
While the days of complete unfamiliarity with webtoons in North America are over, there’s still a need to promote them further, and KComicsBeat seems poised to fulfill that role.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
