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What is Webtoon?

Webtoon is basically a compound word of Web and cartoon.

K-Manhwa (Korean cartoons) has a history of nearly 100 years, but paper magazines and comic books gradually disappeared. Ever since the introduction of the internet in the 90s, there has been a webtoon serialization service available on portal sites. Web-based cartoons have gained huge popularity, even previously published comic books in print format have been reversely digitized. Afterward, more specialized webtoon platforms started to appear and now some platforms offer services for overseas audience. A typical feature of webtoons is that they are published in one long, vertical strip. It uses the way of scrolling down the screen not multiple pages so that it is easier to read on a smartphone. Originally webtoon is based on online platform but some popular webtoons are published also in print format. Now the term of Manhwa means webtoons rather than traditional print comic books.

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Check Awesome Webtoon   Platforms for overseas           

                    

 Naver webtoon  Manta (Ridi)      Tapas (Kakao)     Lezhin comics (include Bomtoon) 

 

Original Korean Webtoon Platforms

               

       Naver                 Ridi             Kakaopage    Kakao(Daum)  Lezhincomics      Bomtoon

 

Use Guide : Naver provides it for free, and for the rest, you can use only 'Free Pass every 24 hours' works for free.

Korean webtoons at OUGL Display during K-Manhwa Festival in 2015

  

Interim Director, Tateuchi East Asia Library / Korea Studies Librarian

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Hyokyoung Yi
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