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Korean manhwa publisherWebtoon Entertainmentis set to get a monumental injection of working capital to help in its ongoing endeavor to relax Japan ’s handle on the essence and minds of the global manga - register public . If everything goes as plan , Webtoon will significantly intensify its advantage as a digital mirthful publisher to levels Japan ’s traditional manga publishers will find difficult to have the best .
As announce in aWebtoon Entertainment insistence releaseearlier in June , the Los Angeles - based subsidiary of the Korean tech giant Naver Communications has decided togo public with an Initial Public Offering ( IPO ) on the United States ' NASDAQ stock exchange . As explained in the release , the estimate behind the IPO is to leverage the companionship ’s diligence - contribute spot and global popularity to draw unexampled investment that they desire to double up into an unmatched mien in the webcomic publication infinite .
concord to theBBC , Webtoon is hoping to sell 15 million shares in the IPO , which it hopes will raise over $ 300 million . Their hopes may not be too far off the sign as some of the biggest institutional investors and fund managing director in the world are trace up to buy into the digital funny publisher . Indeed , theFinancial Timesnotes that the company ’s market value has increased to almost $ 3 billion since announcing its plans to go public , further demonstrate ship’s company leaders ' unattackable confidence in the upcoming IPO .
Webtoon’s Expansion Rests on the Shoulders of Its Creators
Content Is KingiIn Webtoon’s Digital Comic Publishing Future
While the total amount of funds Webtoon will produce from its IPO is yet unidentified , what is clear is that it will be significant . That ’s crucial for Webtoon since it needs the funds to finance its next microscope stage of development - which it believe will cement its position as the leader of digital laughable content . agree toNikkei Asia Review , Webtoon plans to use the money it raises in the IPO on two areas of centering .
First , it will use the investment trust to “ dilate its creator base ” . This initiative involves two sub - components : progress out its content by recruiting more Maker while increase recompense for live Creator to assure their continued collaboration . Naturally , Webtoon will only be as secure as the manhwa subject matter it produces . consequently , receive more contented God Almighty who find financially inviolable working for Webtoon will go a foresighted way to ensure more good manhwa content get out to the populace . As Webtoon founder and CEO Junkoo Kim said in an interview withForbes :
We partner with our Creator for succeeder . We do n’t own the content ; they have all the right . We just help them follow financially , at the same time heed to our exploiter substructure . We sample to provide an unmatched value proffer for our creators .
Second , Webtoon contrive to use its IPO store to invest heavily in AI . The investment willnot be for AI tools that generate message . Indeed , as Webtoon ’s CSO Yongsoo Kim said in the sameForbesinterview , AI will not be used to replace Webtoon ’s creators . Rather , the investment will go into AI cock that further the productiveness of the company ’s human message Almighty , such as “ AI - based auto - painting tools ” . Webtoon wo n’t just dabble in this domain but plan to show a dedicated AI department focused on getting the most from the technology .
In a Digital Comic Future, Webtoon Finds Itself in The Power Position
Outside , helping its Jehovah make more top - stage subject . Webtoon also plans to serve Creator marketand deal their products . Indeed , this is an area where the digital comic publisher has several advantages . First , as the world ’s leading digital comical publisher in a creation that is becoming progressively digital , Webtoon has a significant advantage not only in promoting its mental object to digital natives but also in provide entree to that content .
To be certain , Webtoon believes that the time to come of comic publication , including manga , will be digital . The funds raised from the IPO will ensure that it not only participate in digital comic discussions but also contribute the conversation . As the two company leaders paint a picture , in the time to come , everyone – from consumers to Creator to publishers – will be interested in whatWebtoonis doing .
seed : Webtoon Entertainment , BBC , Financial Times , Nikkei Asia Review , Forbes
