14.08.2025 09:55
Webtoon Entertainment, the digital comics subsidiary of South Korean tech giant Naver, experienced a dramatic 81% surge in its stock price on Wednesday. This unprecedented single-day jump followed the announcement of a significant partnership with Walt Disney, marking the company's most substantial gain since its Nasdaq debut last year.
The collaboration will bring a diverse range of popular franchises from Disney's extensive portfolio to Webtoon's English-language app. Approximately 100 reformatted comics, including titles from Marvel, 20th Century Studios, and Star Wars—with initial releases featuring iconic characters like Spider-Man and the Avengers—will be made available to Webtoon's vast audience. Beyond simply adapting existing content, the partnership also entails the joint creation of original webcomics.
Kim Yongsoo, Webtoon Entertainment's Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global, expressed immense enthusiasm for this collaboration in a press release. He highlighted the opportunity to introduce these legendary stories to a new generation of mobile-first comic enthusiasts, offering a fresh, engaging experience for existing fans. The statement underscored the mutually beneficial aspects of this partnership, positioning it as a springboard for future ventures.
Despite the significant stock surge, closing at $16.96, Webtoon Entertainment's share price remains below its initial public offering (IPO) price of $21. The company, based in Los Angeles, launched its $315 million IPO on Nasdaq in June of the previous year. Subsequent disappointing earnings had previously weighed heavily on the stock performance before this significant uptick.
Webtoon Entertainment's success story began in 2005 with Naver's pioneering introduction of a vertically scrolling digital comic platform. The subsequent development of a mobile app in the 2010s coincided with the widespread adoption of smartphones, exponentially increasing webtoon's reach and popularity. Further growth was fueled by the global rise of K-pop and K-dramas during the pandemic, significantly contributing to the platform's current success. This new Disney partnership promises to propel Webtoon Entertainment's growth even further on the global stage.
