South Korea Webtoon Revenue 2024 Tops $1.3 Billion for Second Straight Year

K-webtoons are no longer a niche hobby; they've become a multibillion-dollar powerhouse. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KOCCA, the domestic webtoon industry generated an estimated 2.286 trillion won (approx. $1.397 billion) in revenue in 2024. This marks a 4.4% increase from the previous year, maintaining the sector's momentum above the 2 trillion won threshold for the second consecutive year.

South Korea Webtoon Revenue 2024 Trends

The sector's growth trajectory is nothing short of impressive. Since the government began official tracking in 2018, revenue has exploded. In 2017, the market was valued at just 379.9 billion won. It crossed the 1 trillion won milestone in 2020 and reached the 2 trillion won mark for the first time in 2023. This steady expansion proves the resilience of the digital comics format in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.

Japan and North America Drive Export Success

Japan remains the king of overseas markets for K-webtoons, claiming 49.5% of total exports. North America follows with a strong 21.0% share. Interestingly, online transmission rights account for 84% of all exports, highlighting the industry's focus on platform-based digital consumption over traditional print publishing.