Webtoon-to-Drama Pipeline and IP Deals — 2026-09-25
Kakao Entertainment is shutting down Tapas and merging Kakao Webtoon into Kakao Page, restructuring its North American IP pipeline. Meanwhile, Netflix's webtoon-based "The Scandal" hit the global Top 10 in three days, and the 2026 World Webtoon Awards opened a global reader vote over its 20 finalists this week.
Webtoon-to-Drama Pipeline and IP Deals — 2026-09-25
Top developments
Kakao Entertainment shuts down Tapas, accelerates platform consolidation
On September 22, Kakao Entertainment notified publishers and rights holders that it is shutting down Tapas, its North American webtoon platform, according to Anime News Network. Concurrently, Kakao Webtoon will be merged into Kakao Page this year, per Seoul Economic Daily's English edition.
The ₩1.1 trillion exit from North America
BigGo Finance reports Kakao invested roughly ₩1.1 trillion acquiring Tapas in 2021, and the shutdown accelerates business integration — raising questions about rights continuity for titles adapted or developed through the platform, including migration paths for Tapas-hosted IP rights holders.
'The Scandal' cracks Netflix global Top 10 in three days
Netflix's "The Scandal," a Joseon-era drama based on a webtoon, entered the Netflix global Top 10 within three days of release and has been praised by ZAPZEE for its adaptation quality and performances, with unreleased stills issued this week. Its fast ascendancy is fresh evidence that webtoon originals can outperform original-script K-dramas on global charts.
2026 World Webtoon Awards opens global reader vote
On September 20, the 2026 World Webtoon Awards announced 20 finalists and opened worldwide online voting running September 17 to October 19. Shortlist titles include works already adapted into dramas and films — "Serious Trauma Center," "Revenge of the Baskerville Bloodhound (전독시)" and "The Scandal" are cited as candidates.
Local view
Korean media continues to frame webtoon adaptations as K-content's growth engine: Chosun Ilbo reported that 86 webtoon-original dramas were produced this year alone, with adaptions driving global viewership surges for the originals. TV Report (via Daum) noted earlier this year that roughly one in four dramas airing or upcoming across terrestrial, cable and OTT platforms is a webtoon or web-novel adaptation, with one hitting a peak 18.7% rating and holding Netflix's No. 1 for four weeks.
Context & numbers
- Webtoon Entertainment Q2 2026 revenue: $338.5 million (~₩508 billion), down 2.8% YoY, alongside a $15.6 million operating loss.
- Q1 2026 revenue of $320.9 million declined 1.5%, driven by declines in IP Adaptations.
- Kakao paid approximately ₩1.1 trillion for Tapas in 2021.
On the radar
- "Reawakened: The Red," the webtoon-based live-action movie, opens in South Korea September 30.
- World Webtoon Awards global voting closes October 19.
- The Overgeared anime (based on the Tapas-hosted manhwa with 6M+ reads) premieres on Crunchyroll October 2 — its availability on the now-shutting Tapas adds an open rights question.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
