Easy and quick overseas expansion of content using Letterworks
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The global manga market is growing rapidly, and Korean webtoons are attracting attention as the 'next generation Hallyu' and are gaining great popularity in the global market.
The top 3 works in cumulative transaction value for KakaoEnter's North American platform “Tapas.” From the left, “The Beginning, Not the End,” “I Only Level Up,” and “In-house Competition.”However, in order to successfully enter the global market, localization work that understands and reflects the culture and language of local readers is essential. In this article, we'll look at why you should use Letterworks' localization services to succeed in the global manga market.
The current state of the global manga market and the growth of Korean webtoons
The global manga market continues to grow, and the share of digital comics in particular is increasing. As of 2021, the global manga market reached approximately 11.8 billion dollars, and the Japanese digital manga market alone grew to about 4.3 trillion won in 2022. This growth is being further accelerated as readers around the world can easily access comics through various digital platforms.
Trends in the volume of foreign exports by domestic content type (unit: M USD) Thanks to this trend, Korean webtoons are attracting attention as the 'next generation Hallyu'. However, in order to succeed in the global market, thorough localization work is required that takes into account local culture and language.
The importance of localization and the role of Letterworks
- Understanding the culture and language of local readers
To succeed in the global marketplace, simply translating your work isn't enough. It is important to reinvent content that readers in each country can relate to culturally. For example, Japanese readers prefer not only webtoons translated into Japanese, but also content localized to suit Japanese culture. This helps readers to be more immersed in and empathize with webtoons.
An example of localization of the Disney animation “Inside Out” Letterworks understands cultural differences in various regions around the world and specializes in localizing content so that readers in each region can naturally accept it. Their services go beyond simple translation and include deeply understanding the context and meaning of content and adapting it to each country's culture.
- Strengthening competitiveness in the local market
If localization is not carried out properly, competitiveness in the global market may decrease. Content that doesn't match each country's culture and language can cause readers a sense of distance, which can eventually lead to a reduction in content consumption.
Letterworks enhances the quality of content and strengthens competitiveness in the local market through thorough localization work. Letterworks has a deep understanding of each region's language and culture, and provides content that readers can feel naturally. Through this, Korean webtoons can be loved by more readers around the world.
The future of Korean webtoons in the global manga market
Korean webtoons are already very popular in the global market, and there is great potential for growth in the future. However, thorough localization work is essential in order to be more approachable to readers around the world. Through Letterworks' localization services, Korean webtoons can be adapted to the culture and language of each country, achieving greater success in the global market.
Letterworks' localization service supports the entry of Korean webtoons into the global market, and through this, it is possible to introduce attractive Korean webtoons to more readers.
By localizing content with Letterworks, we hope that Korean webtoons will become the 'next generation Hallyu' content loved by readers around the world.
Localization essays using Letterworks solutions
Editor/Choi Min-woo
