The Seoul Business Agency (SBA) will host the first-ever “2024 World Webtoon Festival” from September 26 to 29 in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. As a key player in the global content market, the webtoon industry has seen significant growth, and Seoul, home to numerous webtoon creators and companies, has established itself as a central hub for the industry.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global webtoon market is estimated to be worth $7.13 billion in 2023, with K-webtoons leading the charge. The momentum behind K-webtoons is expected to increase further, especially as major domestic platforms, like Naver Webtoon, make waves internationally—such as its NASDAQ listing.

Against this backdrop, Seoul is set to drive the global expansion of K-webtoons through the “2024 World Webtoon Festival.” Co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and co-organized by the SBA and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the festival will bring together webtoon fans and industry professionals from around the world to celebrate popular webtoons and explore the future potential of the global webtoon market.

The festival offers a unique experience, distinct from typical exhibitions or conventions. Companies that own popular webtoon intellectual properties (IPs) will create pop-up stores, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in various webtoon universes, purchase related merchandise, and participate in special events.

Centered around Building D of S-Factory in Seongsu-dong, independent pop-up stores for popular webtoons like ‘Lookism’, ‘Omniscient Reader’, ‘Solo Leveling’, and ‘Debut or Die’ will be featured throughout the area.

At the main venue, other popular webtoons such as ‘The Remarried Empress’, ‘Omurice JamJam’, ‘The Contract Concubine’, ‘Beast Friends’, and ‘Dad, I Don’t Want to Get Married!’ will also participate, generating much anticipation.

Beyond the pop-up stores, the festival will offer a variety of programs, including talk shows, drawing demonstrations, and special exhibitions, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the webtoon industry. A special session by the “Sangsang Biz Academy,” Seoul’s content education institute, will feature well-known webtoon artists like Han Dongwoo, creator of ‘Terror Man’, and Lee Jong-beom, creator of ‘Dr. Frost’.

Other highlights include a lucky draw event sponsored by Wacom, digital exhibitions and experiences hosted by Kakao and Naver, a special exhibition for *The Ruler of the Land*, an AR photo zone, and various side events featuring popular webtoon artists.

Jeon Dae-hyun, head of the Creative Industry Division at the Seoul Business Agency, said, “As a key hub for the global webtoon industry, Seoul will use the ‘2024 World Webtoon Festival’ to strengthen its role. We are committed to supporting the global expansion of diverse webtoon works, starting from Seoul.”