Naver Webtoon has moved to support networking and creative activities by webtoon artists outside the greater Seoul area.
Naver Webtoon said on the 22nd that it held its creator support program "Webtoon With" on the 21st at the Lavalse Hotel in Yeongdo-gu, Busan.
Held under the name "Cookie Masters in the City," the event was planned for artists in non-capital regions who usually have few opportunities for offline interaction. It was arranged in line with the purpose of the "Naver Impact" program, which supports diversity and sustainable growth for businesses and creators through Team Naver's technology and service capabilities.
About 50 webtoon artists living in the Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang, Daegu, and North Gyeongsang regions attended the first event in Busan. The artists shared concerns from their creative processes and networked through a special lecture by Cho Seung-yeon, recreation, meals, and networking time.
Cookie Masters in the City is scheduled to be held sequentially in the Daejeon region in Aug. and in the Gwangju region in Sept.
Through Webtoon With, a program that supports the creative ecosystem, Naver Webtoon provides health checkups for artists; leave and support for family events; orientation for new artists; the "Epilogue Party," a celebration for series completions; and "Wise Creative Life," a strengths coaching program. It has also supported the "Webtoon With Fan Meeting," where artists and readers meet in person, and "Webtoon With Me Sugar Recharge," a 1-night, 2-day program that helps completed-series artists recover emotionally and recharge.
Ini, the artist of "A Kind Intruder," who attended the event, said, "Artists who work in their own spaces gathered in one place, communicated in a healthy way, and felt a deep sense of belonging," adding, "It was very positive and empowering for creative work that the platform went beyond simply providing a space for serialization and created opportunities for artists to connect."
Naver Webtoon plans to invest more than 70 billion won this year to support the global creative ecosystem. The funds will be used to discover works through contests, and for artist education and welfare, and support for global expansion.