Webtoon Bets on Disney Magic To Turn Digital Comics Into America’s Next Korean Export Hit

K-pop conquered stadiums, Buldak noodles burned taste buds, and now WebtoonWBTN

wants digital comics to ride the same wave. While the platform already rules South Korea, it only holds under 5% of the US market, which CFO David Lee calls its “most underpenetrated.” To break through, Webtoon is partnering with DisneyDIS

and Warner Bros.WBD

Animation, hoping their IP helps its 24M creators reach far more of its 155M monthly users in America.

• Webtoon is adapting nearly 100 Disney properties and co-building a platform with 35K titles, alongside new projects with Warner Bros. Animation.
• Users spend 30-60 minutes per day on Webtoon, but converting that engagement into US subscription revenue remains far tougher than in Asia.

Slow burn: Webtoon is up just 3.7% year to date as it swings from a Q3 loss, with management warning that IP timing and ad softness will weigh on revenue. JPMorgan cut its price target to $13, saying the Disney and Warner Bros. partnerships could lift earnings but may take time to show. Evercore’s Mark Mahaney emphasized the company needs “material profitability over the next 12-18 months” but remains bullish on user trends and diversified revenue streams.