Webtoon market data: Korea and global revenue
Webtoons started in Korea and now feed global streaming and publishing pipelines. Official Korean data and market research give two different lenses on the market.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: South Korea's webtoon industry revenue was KRW 2.2856 trillion in 2024, up 4.4% from 2023, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency's 2025 Webtoon Industry Survey. Globally, Mordor Intelligence estimates the webtoon market at $10.85 billion in 2025, forecast to reach $60.25 billion by 2031. Exports are concentrated in Japan (49.3%) and North America (21.0%).
The official Korean webtoon figure
KOCCA's 2025 Webtoon Industry Survey, released with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, puts South Korea's webtoon industry at KRW 2.2856 trillion in 2024. The survey is the third content-industry statistic to gain national approval status in Korea.
The survey covers webtoon platforms and content providers. It notes that 2024 is the first year the survey was converted to nationally approved statistics, so year-on-year comparisons with earlier editions should be interpreted with caution.
Key figures from KOCCA's official 2025 webtoon industry survey.| Measure | Value | Period | Source |
|---|
| South Korea webtoon industry revenue | KRW 2.2856 trillion | 2024 | KOCCA 2025 Webtoon Industry Survey |
| Year-on-year growth | +4.4% | vs 2023 | KOCCA |
| Export share to Japan | 49.3% | 2024 | KOCCA |
| Export share to North America | 21.0% | 2024 | KOCCA |
Global webtoon market estimates
Mordor Intelligence estimates the global webtoon market at $10.85 billion in 2025, growing to $14.44 billion in 2026 and $60.25 billion by 2031. Asia-Pacific held 60.45% of market share in 2025, while North America posted the fastest growth in average revenue per user.
Advertising-funded chapters generated 61.3% of 2025 revenue, while subscriptions accounted for 38.7% and were growing faster. Mobile phones dominated reading time with a 74.2% share.
How webtoons make money
The dominant revenue model is ad-supported free chapters. Platforms also sell premium passes, early-access tickets, and subscription plans. Mordor Intelligence cites examples such as French weekend-only subscription tiers and Japanese 'fast lane' tickets that let readers unlock the next episode for about $0.30.
IP licensing is an increasingly important layer. A Mordor Intelligence case study notes a $420 million partnership between Naver Webtoon and Netflix in April 2025, reflecting how streaming platforms treat top webtoon titles as pre-validated intellectual property.
Korean and global figures measure different things: KOCCA's KRW 2.29 trillion measures revenue reported by South Korean webtoon businesses. Mordor's $10.85 billion is a global market estimate that includes international platforms, localized versions, and related formats. The two numbers are not directly comparable.
Challenges and industry priorities
KOCCA's survey identifies two top operational needs: support for external funding and investment (42.2%) and stronger regulation of illegal piracy sites (35.4%). For overseas expansion, localization support was the most commonly cited need, at 54.6%.
Platform operators emphasized overseas copyright protection, while content providers prioritized building overseas distribution networks. The findings point to a market that is maturing in Korea but still building infrastructure abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the webtoon market in South Korea?
KOCCA reports KRW 2.2856 trillion in industry revenue for 2024, up 4.4% from the previous year.
How big is the global webtoon market?
Mordor Intelligence estimates the global market at $10.85 billion in 2025, with a forecast of $60.25 billion by 2031.
Where do Korean webtoons export the most?
Japan accounted for 49.3% of webtoon exports and North America for 21.0% in 2024, according to KOCCA.
Sources and methodology
- Webtoon Industry Revenue Reaches KRW 2.2856 Trillion in 2024, WalkintoKorea / Korea Creative Content Agency. English summary of KOCCA's 2025 Webtoon Industry Survey, including revenue, export shares, and industry needs.
- Webtoons Market Analysis, Mordor Intelligence. Global market size, segment breakdown, regional shares, and revenue-model forecasts.
- Korea Creative Content Agency, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Official policy overview of Korean government support for the webtoon and cartoon industry.