Naver Webtoon's Kim Yong-su unveils global Flywheel strategy to scale webtoons.
Naver Webtoon Entertainment’s new president, Kim Yong-su, outlined the company’s “Flywheel” strategy at a press briefing in Seoul, saying the initiative is being scaled from Korea to a global stage. The aim is to grow webtoons into a new category within the international entertainment industry by linking creators, content, and users in a continuous loop.
The company has already directed substantial money to creators, distributing about 4.15 trillion won to the creator ecosystem from 2021 through last year. This year, Naver Webtoon plans to invest more than 70 billion won to discover new works and support creators, signaling a continued emphasis on content as the business foundation.
Market observers have focused on recent weaknesses such as declines in monthly active users and falling stock prices. Kim stressed that while short-term metrics can wobble, the underlying Flywheel is solid and creator revenue is rising, arguing that strong content and creator support will ultimately drive user growth and profitability.
Facing competition from capital-rich global tech firms moving into webtoons, Kim said the company can defend its position with what he called an “exclusive creator ecosystem.” He contrasted Naver Webtoon’s model with others that primarily syndicate publisher works, highlighting the platform’s user-generated content culture as a differentiator.
A key element of the strategy is CANVAS, a platform Naver Webtoon runs abroad to discover rookie creators. Kim described CANVAS as a launchpad that helps turn webtoon writers into a recognized profession, broadening the pipeline of homegrown talent that can feed the company’s content engine globally.
Partnerships with Hollywood players are central to growth. Kim said the company intends to launch a new comic platform by year’s end that leverages Disney and Marvel IP, a move aimed at accelerating international scale rather than chasing immediate results. He also indicated plans to adapt popular webtoons into games, dramas, and films during the year.
For U.S. readers and markets, the development matters because it signals a major Asian digital platform intensifying cross-border IP licensing and entertainment integration. A stronger, creator-led webtoon ecosystem could feed U.S. streaming, gaming, and licensing pipelines, while Disney-backed expansion could broaden the availability of Korean-origin IP and storytelling formats in American media.
Overall, the briefing marks Kim’s first formal public appearance since taking the helm, underscoring a strategy that prioritizes long-term growth of a global webtoon ecosystem over short-term indicators. If successful, the Flywheel approach could influence how webtoon IP is produced, monetized, and distributed across the United States and beyond.