Webtoon Makes Readers Giggle
Published on | Source
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Bae Soo-jin, a 31-year-old office worker in Seoul, hunches in front of the computer every Monday and Thursday when her favorite serial comic "Moss", or "Ikki" in Korean, is published on the Internet.
She flips through Web pages to check for updates but sometimes feels disappointed when a new episode is posted later than expected.
"I cannot wait to see the update and I think I am even enjoying this moment of waiting", she confesses.
Bae is not the only one who is eagerly looking forward to seeing comics, called Webtoons here, drawn and colored by a graphics tablet and a pen-like drawing apparatus, not pencils and crayons.
Thousands of Webtoons fanatics even post a range of comments on why a new episode has yet to pop up, which scene they like the most or what mistakes or errors are shown.
Of course, they do not forget to give pep talks to the artists who must be stressed out to meet a once- or twice-a-week deadline.
Webtoons are getting popular here ― based on colorful characters and themes ― and are getting record numbers of views and securing sponsorship.
Secrets of the Webtoons Frenzy
Naver, nation's most popular search portal, has 46 comic series created by 43 artists on its Webtoons page (http://comic.naver.com/weekday/webtoon.nhn).
The number of visitors to the page a week is estimated at more than four million, according to a manager of the leading IT firm NHN which runs Naver.
"It is not difficult to assume why Webtoons are popular. People read them because they're fun", the manager told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. "Besides, it tells various stories in a range of genres".
"The Voice from Mind" created by Cho Suk introduces funny or sometimes embarrassing moments which he experiences in his mundane life through the exaggeratedly drawn character of the artist himself.
It is the most viewed among Tuesday's comics on Naver.
"Narm's Life", which ended last December also gained popularity from Internet users with mundane life stories of creator Seo Na-rae who says it's 12 p.m. when she wakes up and her room is a dump all the time.
"Moss" serialized on Daum, another local popular web portal, is a well-woven suspense story taking place in an isolated, spooky village, which has been praised from readers.
Meanwhile, "The Pink Lady" attracts younger women with a conventional boy-meets-girl story, and brush stroke-like drawings.
Opportunities of interaction also draw viewers.
Printed comic books only allow readers to share their views and appreciation off-line and keep a physical distance from their creators.
But Webtoons enable viewers to post comments and writers to check responses to their latest work.
"Searching for Life" created by Mega Shocking encourages visitors to share similar, mostly embarrassing, experiences shown in each new episode through their comments.
Sometimes, the gray space where netizens can post a comment becomes a place for an active discussion on various issues ranging from Webtoons to social controversy related to stories.
An easy, free access to the emerging entertainment seems to lead Internet users to make more clicks, the NHN manager pointed out.
"We don't force people to view content but just help users choose what they want or need by arranging it", he said.
Most Webtoons are open to everyone, except for some X-rated ones.
Evolutionary Webtoon
Sometimes, the Internet opens the door to amateur comic creators who dream of becoming professional artists.
"The Voice from Mind" and "The Man of Passion" were sporadically serialized creators' blogs but now are one of the most viewed comic series on Naver after they became popular among Internet users.
Spontaneous collaboration among Webtoon creators also amuses viewers. For example, a red rice cooker abandoned in "Fantasia in the Closet" created by Wony turns into a magic lamp in "Narm's Life" and then gives an electric shock to characters in "The Voice from Mind".
"Since we don't particularly censors Webtoons, this kind of collaboration is usually planned by creators themselves", NHN said.
Nowadays, the art of dots and lines in cyber space is blooming into the publishing and even film industries.
Comic books of beloved Webtoons set good sales record.
According to weekly sales rank by Kyobo Book Center, "I Love You" (turned in a dram "I Love You - 2008") by Kang Full and "The Voice from Mind" placed 14th and 16th, respectively, last week.
"Webtoons are popular and viewed by many people, so it is true that publishers are interested in printing collections of popular ones", said an executive of Anibooks which published "Searching for Life" last month.
Meanwhile, "Moss" is scheduled to be cinematized by film director Kang Woo-suk who is often called the most powerful man in Korean cinema.
He was picked in the list of "50 Most Powerful Men in Korean Cinema" for seven consecutive years from 1998 to 2004 by Cine 21, a weekly magazine.
"I was interested in a thriller story", he said in an interview. "I had no hesitation about choosing this comic as my next works because even I was fascinated by its characters".
"Moss" fans, of course, have already begun arguments on the Internet about whether Kang is a suitable figure to direct their favorite Webtoon.
Staff Reporter
Bae Soo-jin, a 31-year-old office worker in Seoul, hunches in front of the computer every Monday and Thursday when her favorite serial comic "Moss", or "Ikki" in Korean, is published on the Internet.
She flips through Web pages to check for updates but sometimes feels disappointed when a new episode is posted later than expected.
"I cannot wait to see the update and I think I am even enjoying this moment of waiting", she confesses.
Bae is not the only one who is eagerly looking forward to seeing comics, called Webtoons here, drawn and colored by a graphics tablet and a pen-like drawing apparatus, not pencils and crayons.
Thousands of Webtoons fanatics even post a range of comments on why a new episode has yet to pop up, which scene they like the most or what mistakes or errors are shown.
Of course, they do not forget to give pep talks to the artists who must be stressed out to meet a once- or twice-a-week deadline.
Webtoons are getting popular here ― based on colorful characters and themes ― and are getting record numbers of views and securing sponsorship.
Secrets of the Webtoons Frenzy
Naver, nation's most popular search portal, has 46 comic series created by 43 artists on its Webtoons page (http://comic.naver.com/weekday/webtoon.nhn).
The number of visitors to the page a week is estimated at more than four million, according to a manager of the leading IT firm NHN which runs Naver.
"It is not difficult to assume why Webtoons are popular. People read them because they're fun", the manager told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. "Besides, it tells various stories in a range of genres".
"The Voice from Mind" created by Cho Suk introduces funny or sometimes embarrassing moments which he experiences in his mundane life through the exaggeratedly drawn character of the artist himself.
It is the most viewed among Tuesday's comics on Naver.
"Narm's Life", which ended last December also gained popularity from Internet users with mundane life stories of creator Seo Na-rae who says it's 12 p.m. when she wakes up and her room is a dump all the time.
"Moss" serialized on Daum, another local popular web portal, is a well-woven suspense story taking place in an isolated, spooky village, which has been praised from readers.
Meanwhile, "The Pink Lady" attracts younger women with a conventional boy-meets-girl story, and brush stroke-like drawings.
Opportunities of interaction also draw viewers.
Printed comic books only allow readers to share their views and appreciation off-line and keep a physical distance from their creators.
But Webtoons enable viewers to post comments and writers to check responses to their latest work.
"Searching for Life" created by Mega Shocking encourages visitors to share similar, mostly embarrassing, experiences shown in each new episode through their comments.
Sometimes, the gray space where netizens can post a comment becomes a place for an active discussion on various issues ranging from Webtoons to social controversy related to stories.
An easy, free access to the emerging entertainment seems to lead Internet users to make more clicks, the NHN manager pointed out.
"We don't force people to view content but just help users choose what they want or need by arranging it", he said.
Most Webtoons are open to everyone, except for some X-rated ones.
Evolutionary Webtoon
Sometimes, the Internet opens the door to amateur comic creators who dream of becoming professional artists.
"The Voice from Mind" and "The Man of Passion" were sporadically serialized creators' blogs but now are one of the most viewed comic series on Naver after they became popular among Internet users.
Spontaneous collaboration among Webtoon creators also amuses viewers. For example, a red rice cooker abandoned in "Fantasia in the Closet" created by Wony turns into a magic lamp in "Narm's Life" and then gives an electric shock to characters in "The Voice from Mind".
"Since we don't particularly censors Webtoons, this kind of collaboration is usually planned by creators themselves", NHN said.
Nowadays, the art of dots and lines in cyber space is blooming into the publishing and even film industries.
Comic books of beloved Webtoons set good sales record.
According to weekly sales rank by Kyobo Book Center, "I Love You" (turned in a dram "I Love You - 2008") by Kang Full and "The Voice from Mind" placed 14th and 16th, respectively, last week.
"Webtoons are popular and viewed by many people, so it is true that publishers are interested in printing collections of popular ones", said an executive of Anibooks which published "Searching for Life" last month.
Meanwhile, "Moss" is scheduled to be cinematized by film director Kang Woo-suk who is often called the most powerful man in Korean cinema.
He was picked in the list of "50 Most Powerful Men in Korean Cinema" for seven consecutive years from 1998 to 2004 by Cine 21, a weekly magazine.
"I was interested in a thriller story", he said in an interview. "I had no hesitation about choosing this comic as my next works because even I was fascinated by its characters".
"Moss" fans, of course, have already begun arguments on the Internet about whether Kang is a suitable figure to direct their favorite Webtoon.
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