Result in 2 Weeks After Submission... Naver Webtoon Expands Debut Opportunities with 'Yeonjae Jikhaeng Train'

Naver Webtoon announced on the 28th that it will expand opportunities for aspiring webtoon artists to debut through its ultra-short-term new work discovery system, 'Yeonjae Jikhaeng Yeolcha' (Direct Serialization Train).

According to Naver, Yeonjae Jikhaeng Yeolcha, introduced for the first time this year, is an ultra-short-term submission system where if you submit today, you can receive results next week. Submissions are accepted for one week, followed by a one-week review period before announcing the results, thereby reducing the time and process until serialization confirmation. Typically, it takes 2 to 5 months from submission to final results in contests. In contrast, Yeonjae Jikhaeng Yeolcha shortens the waiting period for applicants until serialization confirmation and provides opportunities for prospective creators to take on new challenges even if they are rejected.

Yeonjae Jikhaeng Yeolcha is conducted across six categories. Season 1, which ended on the 15th, completed recruitment for the categories of 'Daily Life Toon & Story Toon,' 'Hyperrealism,' and 'Military Service Empathy.' From the 8th to the 14th of next month, recruitment for the 'Defibrillator Romance' category will take place, followed by the 'Cute Character' category from the 15th to the 21st of the same month. Recruitment for the 'Passionate Youth Sports Growth' category will be held from the 22nd to the 28th of next month. Anyone can apply for this Yeonjae Jikhaeng Yeolcha with a completed first-episode manuscript and a 2 to 3 episode storyboard or synopsis.

So far, Naver Webtoon has been striving to create an ecosystem where creators can be active and to provide opportunities for creation. Earlier, in 2006, it established the industry's first 'Challenge Comics' system, laying the foundation for creators to freely engage in activities. Challenge Comics is a space where amateur creators can easily showcase their works to readers and receive immediate feedback. In Southeast Asia and Western cultures, it operates under the name 'CANVAS,' and in Japan, it is run as 'indies,' building a creative ecosystem.

Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon's Korean Webtoon Leader, said, "We will continue to advance the new work discovery system so that more creators can present their stories as webtoons and strive to expand the base of the webtoon industry."