Major Local Production and Publishing Companies Join B2B Event
Over 25,000 Visitors Gather at B2C Exhibition
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency announced on August 4 that they achieved remarkable results at "K-Story & Comics in America," held in Los Angeles, USA, from July 30 to August 3.
The Korea Creative Content Agency operated the 'K-Story&Comics in America' exhibition for local visitors (B2C) in connection with KCON in Los Angeles, USA, from the 1st to the 3rd.
This event was designed to strengthen the foundation for the overseas expansion of Korea's comics and webtoon industry. It was conducted as a global integrated program that combined business-to-business (B2B) transactions and business-to-consumer (B2C) exhibitions for local visitors. The organizers focused on increasing recognition in the North American market by enhancing export consultations and customized pitching for collaboration with local American companies, as well as by linking with the KCON LA 2025 K-Webtoon exhibition.
Seventy-four North American companies participated in the B2B event. Major American film production companies such as Alcon Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Tomorrow Studios took part as buyers, along with renowned publishers such as Inklore, a global webtoon publisher under Penguin Random House, and Tokyopop, a leading North American comic publisher.
From Korea, ten comics and webtoon companies?including Donut Pitch, DCC ENT, Ridi, Vibravo, YLAB Earth, Kenaz, KW Books, Takeone Studio, Torycoms, and Toyou Dream?participated and discussed potential cooperation in various fields such as joint planning, investment, and production.
According to the Korea Creative Content Agency, there were 231 export consultations, with a total consultation amount of approximately $15.77 million (about 22 billion KRW). The most notable achievements were made by Ridi and KW Books. An agency representative explained, "We conducted exclusive pitching sessions targeting global platforms such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Falcons Beyond, actively seeking to adapt K-webtoons into video content and enter the North American market."
The Korea Creative Content Agency operated the 'K-Story&Comics in America' exhibition for local visitors (B2C) in connection with KCON in Los Angeles, USA, from the 1st to the 3rd.
Approximately 25,000 visitors attended the "K-Story & Comics" booth, held in conjunction with KCON LA 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Visitors experienced mobile-based webtoons such as KW Books' "Debut Mot Hamyeon Jukneun Byeong Geollim," YLAB's "Study Group," and Ridi's "Heavy Smoking Spy" in an offline setting. They also enjoyed AI-based photo booths that allowed them to transform into webtoon protagonists and participated in merchandise raffle events.
Kevin Nicklaus, executive producer at Standstone Artist, commented, "It was an opportunity to comprehensively experience promising Korean webtoons in one place," and added, "We were able to confirm the potential for collaboration with works that combine commercial appeal and artistic value."
The Korea Creative Content Agency will also host "K-Story & Comics" in Japan next month, in Taiwan in October, and in Thailand in December. In October, it will participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair to further support the overseas expansion of Korean comics and webtoon companies.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
