NHN COMICO, which is a Japanese corporate body of NHN Entertainment, started webtoon 173 service called ‘COMICO’ in China on the 28th of last month.
COMICO started in Japan in October of 2013 and then Taiwan (7/2014), South Korea (10/2014), Thailand (2/2016). China is the 5th country where COMICO started its webtoon service.
COMICO is going to introduce total of 70 titles that includes 10 South Korean products such as To a Lower Place, World where Everyone Has Become Beautiful, Fluttering Feeling, Brave Civilian, Blood Rain and others, 50 COMICO Japanese versions, and 10 COMICO Taiwanese versions in China. It is going to look for excellent writers in China and secure Chinese products.
According to a Chinese research investigating organization called I Research, there were about 210 million Chinese animation users in 2015, which is 47% increase compared to previous year. Videos had the highest usage rate as an internet content in China followed by comics.
“We officially has entered Chinese market that is led by ‘webtoon Korean wave’.” said a representative for NHN Entertainment. “As a webtoon service that covers 5 Asian countries, we are going to actively discover excellent products and promote artists in these countries.”
Staff Reporter Kim, Siso | siso@etnews.com