Webtoon Creator Yoon In-wan: 'Webtoons That Succeed in Korea Will Definitely Succeed Globally'

Webtoons that capture the Korean market are poised for global success, according to Wi-Lab Chairman Yoon In-wan. He asserts that the storytelling and themes that resonate with domestic audiences possess a universal appeal, making them prime candidates for international recognition and adaptation.

Yoon, a key figure in the webtoon industry since founding Wi-Lab in 2010, has a proven track record of creating content with broad appeal. His company's latest project, the film 'Revival Man: The Red,' is based on the 2016 webtoon of the same name. The story follows a job-seeker who gains the extraordinary ability to resurrect every 72 hours, ultimately leading to his personal growth despite numerous setbacks. Yoon highlighted that the narrative, though a decade old, continues to connect with the challenges faced by young people today.

Wi-Lab's strategy, as explained by Yoon, centers on producing "planned webtoons." This approach involves considering video adaptation, such as films and dramas, from the very inception of a webtoon's development. This foresight has led to numerous hits, including the drama 'True Education,' which achieved significant international viewership, ranking among Netflix's top 10 most popular non-English series. Other planned adaptations include 'Study Group' and 'The Good Competition,' both slated for release in 2025.

Yoon, who returned to Wi-Lab as chairman in March after stepping back from daily management post-listing in 2023, met with Dong-A Ilbo at the company's Seoul office. He elaborated on the company's early adoption of a production model that prioritizes visual adaptation, ensuring that the webtoons are not only compelling as digital comics but also possess the structural and narrative qualities suitable for screen translation.

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Webtoons that succeed in Korea will definitely succeed globally.