South Korea’s webcomics industry blends tradition with AI-driven innovation

South Korea’s webcomics industry is witnessing a creative transformation as generative AI becomes integrated into the production process. Legendary cartoonist Lee Hyun-se exemplifies this shift—while maintaining his artistic integrity, he’s leveraging AI to extend the legacy of his iconic characters. This evolution marks a significant turning point for an industry that has already successfully transitioned from print magazines to digital platforms, now commanding a global audience of hundreds of millions of readers.

The big picture: Established South Korean cartoonists are experimenting with AI tools to enhance their storytelling capabilities while preserving their artistic voice.

• Lee Hyun-se, creator of the 1983 manhwa classic “A Daunting Team,” embodies this balance, stating: “My mind is still sharp and my hands work just fine, so I have no interest in getting help from AI to draw or write stories.”
• Despite his traditional stance on creation, Lee has embraced AI to “immortalize” his beloved characters Kkachi, Umji, and Ma Dong-tak, demonstrating how artists can selectively incorporate these new technologies.

Why this matters: The integration of AI into South Korea’s webcomics represents a pivotal moment for an industry that has already successfully evolved from print to become a global digital entertainment powerhouse.

• Web comics have transformed from a niche subculture to a mainstream medium with hundreds of millions of readers worldwide.
• How artists like Lee navigate the AI revolution could serve as a blueprint for creative industries globally struggling with similar technological disruptions.

Industry context: South Korean digital comics platforms like Naver Webtoon, Kakao Webtoon, and Lezhin Comics have become significant players in the global entertainment ecosystem.

• The transition from traditional comics magazines to vertical-scrolling digital formats at the turn of the century created the foundation for today’s thriving webcomics industry.
• AI tools like Stable Diffusion are now being integrated into this already-digital creative process, potentially representing the next evolutionary step for the medium.

Artists’ perspectives: The creative community appears divided on AI’s role, with opinions ranging from cautious integration to serious concerns about the technology’s impact.

• Artists like Park So-won and Bae Jin-soo are exploring how AI can complement their work while maintaining their artistic integrity.
• Some creators express anxiety about potential job displacement and the ethical implications of AI systems trained on human-created artwork.