KOMACONKorea Manhwa Contents Agency

To the future

with Manhwa!

To the world

with Manhwa!

Contents 02 Vision and Our Work

04 Our History

06 Main Facilities

10 Korea Manhwa Museum

12 Bucheon International Comics Festival

14 Support for Expansion into Global Markets

16 Support for Activation of Manhwa Ecosystem

18 Manhwa Awards

20 Fostering Human Resources in Manhwa Industry

As Korea’s sole Manhwa promotion agency,

KOMACON (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency) creates a happy world with Manhwa imagination.

/ 03KOMACON 02

Our WorkVision

Korea Manhwa Contents Agency

Support project

Support for creation

Support for fostering human resources

Support for expansion into global markets

Establishing and operating Bucheon

Visual Culture Complex

Operating Korea Manhwa Museum

and Manhwa Library

Holding Bucheon International

Comics Festival

To the future with Manhwa! To the world

with Manhwa!OSMU

Expanding Convergence

Contents Industry

Expansion into

Global Markets

Enhancing the Value of

Manhwa Culture and Expanding the

Foundation to Enjoy Manhwa

Group of Experts in Manhwa contents

Expert

Facilitating convergence

Manhwa contents

Fusion

Preoccupying webtoon and global digital

Manhwa market

Occupation

Fostering fair Manhwa

industry where diversity exists

Regulator

Discovering creative human

resource and contents

Creative

Five Major Implementation Strategies (“FORCE”)

KOMACONKorea Manhwa Contents Agency

KOMACON

Ⓒ 허

영만

/ 05KOMACON 04

Our HistoryKorea Manhwa Contents Agency

Our History

1998.Dec.Established Bucheon Manhwa Information Center Hosted the 1st Bucheon International Comics Festival

2015.Jul.Opened Sosaewul Eoulmadang

2000.Feb.Opened Dodang-dong Manhwa Information Center(Merged with the current Korea Manhwa Museum)

2016.Jan.Held <Korea Webtoon Exhibition> in Angouleme International Comics Festival

2013.Feb. Two titles of Manhwa listed as Registered Cultural Heritage

2014.Jan.Held Angouleme Special Korean Manhwa Exhibition< ‘Comfort Women’ Exhibit “Flowers that Never Wilt”> in Angouleme

2016.May.Opened Korea-China Manhwa & Experience Center in Yantai city, Shandong Province, China

2012.Feb.Enacted “Promotion of Cartoons Acts”

2001.Mar.Started Digital Manhwa Archives Kyujanggak service

2001.Oct.Opened Korea Manhwa Museum in Chunui-dong(Merged with the current Korea Manhwa Museum)

2011.Jun.Designated as a culture industry promotion facility

2009.Nov.Reopened Korea Manhwa Museum

2017.Feb.Korea Manhwa Museum broke 2.5 million visitors

2009.Sept.Opened KOMACON (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency)

2006.Feb.Opened secretariat of International Comic Artist Conference

2003.Mar.Opened Bucheon Manhwa Industry Comprehensive Support Center(Currently Bucheon Manhwa Creation Studio)

2017.Oct.Opened Webtoon Startup Campus

2010.Dec.Designated as a specialized cinema for animation

Starting out as Bucheon Manhwa Information Center in 1998 in Bucheon, the City of Culture,

KOMACON (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency) is a sole Manhwa promotion agency of Korea which was

established in 2009 with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and Gyeonggi Province.“”Ⓒ

최호

철

/ 07KOMACON 06 / 08

Location : 422-1, Hohyeon-ro, Bucheon-siFacility scale : Total ground area of 329㎡Building size : Ground level 1, and 2FKey facilities : Manhwa book cafe, Cafeteria,

Multipurpose open space, Living culture practice room, etc.

Sosaewul Eoulmadang

Webtoon Startup Campus

Location : 1, Gilju-ro, Bucheon-si (Sang3dong 529-36)Facility scale : Total ground area of 325㎡Building size : Basement level 1FKey facilities : Open type work space, Concentrated type

work space, Office space, Networking cafe, OA room, Phone booth

Dodang Eoulmadang

Location : 360, Bucheon-ro, Bucheon-siFacility scale : Total ground area of 436,98㎡Building size : Ground level 1F - Ground level 5FKey facilities : Manhwa book cafe, Kids zone,

Study room, OA room, Office space

Korea Manhwa Museum

Location : 1, Gilju-ro, Bucheon-si (Sang3dong 529-36)Facility scale : Total ground area of 8,342㎡Building size : Basement level 1F - Ground level 4FKey facilities : Manhwa Library, Children’s reading room,

Animation theater, Permanent exhibition hall, Special exhibition hall, Experience education hall, Experience space, etc.

Bucheon Manhwa Creation Studio

Location : 30, Bucheon-ro, 136 Beon-gil, Bucheon-siFacility scale : Total ground area of 3,622,67㎡Building size : Basement level 1F - Ground level 4FKey facilities : Creation room, Education room,

Counseling room, etc.

KOMACON 06 / 07

KOMACON

Dream space where various Manhwa

contents are created ”“

➊ Manhwa Business Center➋ Korea Manhwa Museum➌ Webtoon Startup Campus

➋

➊

➌

Bucheon Visual culture complex

Representing Bucheon, the capital city of Manhwa in Korea, KOMACON (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency) has Manhwa visual contents industry cluster, where more than 500 Manhwa artists and more than 100 Manhwa companies are located, such as Manhwa Business Center, Webtoon Startup Campus, Bucheon Manhwa Creation Studio, Sosaewul Eoulmadang, and Dodang Eoulmadang.

In addition, it takes pride in Korea Manhwa Museum, Korea's largest Manhwa complex cultural space, and every summer it provides pleasant experiences to people around the world who love Manhwa by hosting Bucheon International Comics Festival, one of Asia's biggest Manhwa festivals.

Main Facilities

Korea Manhwa Contents Agency

Main Facilities

Bucheon City HallSamsan Gymnasium station

Sang-dong station Bucheon City

Hall station

Dodang Eoulmadang

Bucheon Manhwa Creation Studio

Sosaewul Eoulmadang

Sinjung-dong station

Chunui station

Kkachiul station

Yeokgok station

Sosa station

Bucheon station

Jungdong station

Subway line no.1

Subway line no.7

Bucheon Stadium Station

/ 11KOMACON 09 / 10

Establishing artistic status of Manhwa with various Manhwa exhibitionExpanding the foundation to enjoy Manhwa culture with Manhwa education program and various eventsFinding value of Manhwa as cultural heritage by the registration of various Manhwa works as designated cultural asset of nation (Manhwa works such as 'Rabbit and Monkey', 'Thirty Thousand Miles to Look for Mother', 'Kojubu Samgukji' were designated as Registered Cultural Heritages)

As the first Manhwa specialized museum, Korea Manhwa

Museum was established in 2001 to enhance the cultural

and artistic value of Manhwa and to inherit valuable

Manhwa heritage to next generations.Korea Manhwa

MuseumKorea Manhwa

MuseumPlayground for Manhwa Imagination

B1 / Archives (Storage)

2F / Manhwa Library

3F / 4D Theater

4F / Manhwa Experience Zone

3F / Permanent Exhibition Hall

1F / Animation Theater

Korea's largest Manhwa specialized library with more

than 20,000 old Manhwa data and

more than 310,000 Manhwa books

Collecting, preserving and handing down Manhwa data to next generations

Space to enjoy Manhwa culture

Providing Manhwa data and information

By establishing a systematic and comprehensive database

for Korea Manhwa Museum and library's data (such as

Manhwa books, theoretical books, videos, original painting,

character data, and possessions), Digital Manhwa Archives

Kyujanggak makes it possible for anyone to search and

utilize digital Manhwa data easily.

Digital Manhwa Archives Kyujanggak

www.komacon.kr/dmkLocation : 1, Gilju-ro, Bucheon-si (Sang3dong 529-36)

Facility scale : Total ground area of 15,421㎡

Building size : Basement level 2F - Ground level 5F

Key facilities : Manhwa artists room, Corporate office,

Manhwa associations office, KOMACON office,

Education room, Project room, Seminar room,

BIAF Organizing Committee

Manhwa Business Center

Manhwa Business Center

/ 13KOMACON 12

Bucheon International Comics Festival is one of Asia's biggest comics festivals visited by more than 100,000 people every year. This festival is turning itself into a Korea’s genuine representative Manhwa festival, where Manhwa artists, workers from Manhwa industry, maniacs, and citizens enjoy together, by organizing various programs including Manhwa exhibition, Manhwa business market, academic conference, costume play contest, and citizen participation events.

Bucheon International Comics FestivalBucheon International Comics Festival

Artist Signing Event Participation Event

Manhwa Special Exhibition Costume Play Festival

KOCOA(Korea Comics Agora)

As conference specialized in Manhwa contents, KOCOA serves as a place where domestic and overseas experts express their opinions about current global Manhwa industry issues and people discuss the future directions of Manhwa industry with humanities and social approaches.

KICOM(Korea International Comics Market)

As a fair event specialized in Manwha contents, KICOM plans and opens B2B market to build up overseas sale routes for domestic artists and companies to sell products and help promotion.

Manhwa artist who wins the grand prize of Bucheon International Comics Festival is given the chance to design an official poster and hold a special exhibition in Bucheon International Comics Festival of the following year.

Ⓒ 마일로

/ 15KOMACON 14

Supporting Program for Webtoon Platform Localization

Providing support for expenses of development and operation of webtoon platforms in overseas markets

Holding Webtoon Export Counseling

Developing various promotional events such as webtoon export counseling, pitching show, and seminar as well as operating webtoon promotion booth in major overseas markets

Translation Supporting Program for Export

Expanding the chances for Korea’s Manhwa to enter the global market by providing translation support for excellent Manhwa works suitable for export

Supporting Program for Global Management Distribution

Providing support for personnel expenses of specialized human resources and overseas marketing for global expansion

ICC(International Comic Artists Conference)

ICC is an opportunity to interact with a variety of comics genres from around the world, as well as the

place for exchange and festival for artists to contribute to the society with their responsibility as comics

artists. With the secretariat office in KOMACON, it has been held alternately by permanent members of

conference, that is Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan since 1996.

Global Events Global Support Project

Ⓒ 미

역의

효능

As Manhwa industry hub of Korea, KOMACON (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency)

serves as a bridgehead for globalizing Korean Manhwa.“ ”

Global Webtoon Forum

Global Webtoon Forum is held to analyze the trend of global digital comics market and to suggest the

future prospect of Korea’s Webtoon. People from Korea and overseas nations in the area of movie, game,

and entertainment industries as well as Manhwa pay attention to the potential of Webtoon, which is

spotlighted as the source contents of the secondary contents production.

Korea Manhwa Contents Agency

Support for Expansion into Global MarketSupport for Expansion into Global Market

With the step-by-step support projects covering the entire process of planning-

production-distribution-diversification, KOMACON(Korea Manhwa Contents Agency)

promotes vitalization of Manhwa creation ecosystem.

<Manhwa Section Help Desk Operation>

Providing various advisory support regarding law, accounting, taxation, startup and management to resolve

various kinds of difficulties in promoting Manhwa creation

and business.

Diverse Manhwa Contents Production Support ProjectSecuring diversity of Korean Manhwa and cre-ating a balanced Manhwa consumer culture through planning and production support for Manhwa of various genres and subjects

Manhwa Strip Production Support ProjectAiming the activation of Manhwa creation basis and distribution condition bysupporting a series of excellent Manhwa strips

Manhwa-Based Contents Production Support ProjectProviding support for producing derivative products of Manhwa origin to enable the OSMU(One -Source -Multi -Use) of excellent Manhwa IPs

Manhwa Contents Diversification Support ProjectSupporting of producing MCN(Multi Channel Network) contents using Manhwa source and opening Manhwa exhibition to expand the base of Manhwa culture by diversifying the ways for people to enjoy Manhwa that have been enjoyed only in forms of books, the webs, and apps

Steel Rain<Steel rain (by Yang Woo Seok)> was selected for 2017 Manhwa Strips Production Support Project, and it is Korea's first completion type of trans media content by which webtoon, movie and web novel were simultaneously produced and distributed. This work attracted the concentrated interest of the cultural industry and at the same time confirmed the possibility of new diffusion of the webtoon contents.

Super Awesome Band<Super awesome band (by Kae Ho Joo and Lee Gwan Yong)> was selected for 2017 Manhwa Strips Production Support Project. From the beginning it was developed as a work that targets both Korea and overseas markets and it broke 100 million views in just two months after launching in China's Manhwa specialized platform Tencent.

Planning / Production

Distribution

Diversification (OSMU)

Avengers Social Club<Avengers Social Club (by Lion rabbit)> was selected for 2013 Manhwa Strips Production Support Project, and it was published in Daum Webtoon through process of experts mentoring and planning and development, and aired as a drama in 2017 with great popularity.

Manhwa Planning and Development Support ProjectProviding support in planning and research-ing phases which are practically necessary for Manhwa artists to ensure that potential ideas are developed into outstanding Manhwa IP without being abandoned

Honey Blood / ImitationBoth works were selected for 2014 Inactive Genre Manhwa Series Support Project, and regarded as leading the facilitation of romance genre, which was not that popular at that time. In particular, <Honey blood (by Lee Na Rae)> became a hit in the U.S./Japan/France/Southeast Asia and hugely popular in China with views exceeding 11.2 billions in Kuaikan, Manhwa-specialized platform.

Support projects/Success cases

/ 17KOMACON 16

Ⓒ 윤

태호

Ⓒ 송동근

Korea Manhwa Contents Agency

Support for Activation of Manhwa EcosystemSupport for Activation of Manhwa Ecosystem

“”

There is the fun to choose

from various genres of Manhwa!

Manhwa AwardsManhwa AwardsKorea Manhwa Contents Agency

The World of Manhwa open to those who are dreaming of ManhwaThe World of Manhwa open to those who are dreaming of Manhwa

• Every year, Grand prize / Children Manhwa prize / Overseas work prize / Academic critique prize / Reader’s popularity prize

• Manhwa artist who wins the grand prize of Bucheon Comics Award is given the chance to design an official poster and hold a special exhibition in Bucheon International Comics Festival

Bucheon Comics Award

• <Daum Webtoon Contest> with KOMACON

• Systematically fostering new talented people by providing mentoring and producing programs

Contest for Promotion of Original Comic Works

• Fostering new talented people systematically by providing educational program for award winners

• Divided into middle school group and high school group

•Story Manhwa / Cartoon section

• Awarding the prize of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism

National Student Comic Works Contest

• The year’s representative Manhwa works are selected

• First government-led Manhwa award with the previous form of Korea Manhwa Literature Award that started in 1991

Our Manhwa of Today

/ 19KOMACON 18

Ⓒ 미역의효능

Ⓒ 오나경

Ⓒ 늉비

Ⓒ 수신지

Ⓒ 김태훈 Ⓒ 돌석

National Digital Comics Contest

• <Naver Webtoon Contest> with KOMACON

• Gaining the chance to publish officially in Naver Webtoon

• Since 2017, the contest expanded the qualification to allow not only students from Manhwa department but also any prospective artists even without official career of publication to participate in <Naver Webtoon Contest>

• Anyone over the age of 18 can participate

• Short Manhwa / Cartoon section

• Since 2003, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Korea Creative Comics Contest

Established webtoon creation experience center

38 places in 17 cities · provinces · metropolitan

councils across the country.

Support to build up

local webtoon campus in Suncheon,

Daejeon, and Daegu

for prospective Manhwa artists outside the

capital area.

/ 21KOMACON 20

Educational program to foster talented people

K-Comics AcademyProviding specialized educational program regarding Manhwa creation, planning and distribution to Manhwa artists,

prospective Manhwa artists, and Manhwa related business people based on changing digital environment

Support project for fostering Human Resources

On the spot Fostering Creative Human Resources in Manhwa projectSupport project to enable prospective Manhwa artists to inherit multifaceted experiences and know-how through

group mentoring by experts from Manhwa and webtoon creation areas (digital/story/coloring)

Ⓒ 박

시백

<K-Comics Academy 'Flying drones and drawing' result work>

Ⓒ 송동근

Support for Manhwa Culture Local Base

Manhwa Flowering in Every corner

of the nation

Korea Manhwa Contents Agency

Fostering Human Resources in Manhwa IndustryFostering Human Resources in Manhwa Industry

KOMACON 032-310-3067 www.komacon.kr facebook : facebook.com/komacon1998 twitter : @manhwa_love

Korea Manhwa 032-310-3090~1 Museum www.komacon.kr/comicsmuseum facebook : facebook.com/manhwamuseumedu

Bucheon 032-310-3074International www.bicof.com Comics Festival facebook : facebook.com/withbicof twitter : @ withbicof

Manhwa Library 032-310-3191

Bucheon Manhwa 032-614-3745 Creation Studio

International Comic 032-310-3024 Artists Conference www.komacon.kr/iccSecretariat K-Comics Academy 032-310-3135 edu.komacon.kr

Contacts

KOMACON

Sangdong Lake Park

Samsan Gymnasium

station

Sangdong station

Jungdong

IC

Songnae station

Bugae station

Line no.7

Line no.1

Directions

1, Gilju-ro, Bucheon-si (Sang3dong 529-36)

Subway : Samsan Gymnasium station (Line 7) 1-minute walk from Exit number 5

Bus : (Songnae station) no.37 (Bugae station) no.79 (Hwagok station) no.59-1

Car : Seoul ring expressway Jungdong IC (direction to Incheon) → KOMACON

(Search word for satellite navigation : "Korea Manhwa Museum" or "KOMACON")

Parking information : Free parking for passenger cars in the parking lot of KOMACON

Paid public parking lot of Bucheon Visual Culture Complex for midsized cars (for more than 15-seaters)