Suncheon City Launches 'Webtoon Startup' Cultural City Project in Earnest

Three Core Strategies: Corporate Support, Talent Development, and Citizen Enjoyment

Suncheon City, Jeonnam (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced on the 18th that it has officially launched the "Webtoon Startup" program on the 15th to discover webtoon works with potential for entry into the global market.

The Webtoon Startup program is the first talent development project initiated by Suncheon City, which was the only city in the cultural content sector to be designated as a "Korea Culture City" last year.

The webtoon startup in Suncheon City was the only one in the cultural content sector last year to be selected as a Korean Cultural City, marking the first talent development project to begin. Provided by Suncheon City

This training, which includes 14 participants from Seoul, Gwangju, Suncheon, and other regions, is being held at the Suncheon Global Webtoon Center over four weeks until July 9, with a total of 12 sessions.

The curriculum focuses on practical, differentiated courses such as scenario composition, character building, and planning document writing, which are core elements of webtoon production. In addition, the program emphasizes strengthening creative capabilities through one-on-one feedback and practical advice from mentors.

In particular, unlike standardized debut processes, this program will connect outstanding project proposals, upon completion, to the "Webtoon Bootcamp Pro Artist Course" starting in the second half of the year, supporting production and global advancement. Specialized courses in areas such as storyboard, sketching, and coloring will also be provided to foster experts and support youth employment.

At the orientation held on the first day of training on the 15th, participants and instructors introduced themselves, reviewed the detailed curriculum, and gained insights into the current status and industrial structure of the webtoon market.

One participant expressed passion, saying, "The well-structured curriculum and the instructors' detailed explanations gave me hope that I can succeed as a creator."

The anchor company overseeing the project also offered encouragement, saying, "As this is a meaningful project promoted after relocating to Suncheon, we hope creators will achieve great results."

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu of Suncheon stated, "The most important element for revitalizing the region and attracting companies as a cultural industry city is talent," adding, "Through the Korea Culture City project, we will support the joint growth of aspiring creators and the region, ensuring that both companies and creators benefit in various ways."

Meanwhile, Suncheon City, designated as a "Korea Culture City" last year, has set corporate support, talent development, and citizen enjoyment as its three key strategies. The city has presented a vision to become a global cultural industry hub and plans to promote IP creation and production support, cultural content industry exhibitions, and weekend plaza events.