South Korean Webtoon Production Company Lezhin Entertainment Expanding Into U.S. Market

Lezhin Entertainment, one of the most popular comic service company in South Korea that dishes out webtoons for a more mature audience, has announced its expansion into the United States market, Korea Times reported Tuesday.

As part of the company's goal to enter the U.S. market successfully, Lezhin has released some of its translated materials as well as set-up the appropriate payment methods for its overseas audiences.

AJU Business Daily reported that there have been about 12 digital comics created by local South Korean illustrators for the firm's U.S.-based operations. The company plans to increase the number of comics to 40 by the end of this year.

"Lezhine will not only serve as an export channel for Korean webtoons but also become a leading webtoon services platform in the US market," said Lezhin Entertainment's Chief Executive Officer, Han Hee Sung.

To appeal to online American readers and boost its presence and popularity in the region, Lezhin will make available content under various genres from romance to fantasy. Among the handpicked cartoons that have already been released in the U.S. includes "Mystery Matchstick Twenty", "Four Cut Hero", "My Secret Brother" and "An Eye for An Eye."

These webtoon services are accessible to all online readers who will be paying the particular premiums via credit cards.

Han said the launching of Lezhin Entertainment's services in the United States market "is a footstone to expand the business in the world's largest contents market."

"We plan to work as the main channel of exporting South Korean web-cartoon and in same time becoming the most popular web cartoon platform in the U.S.," Han added.

Lezhin Entertainment's U.S. operations is perceived to lead the entire business in the country.

Prior to entering the United States, Lezhin had expanded its comic services to Taiwan and Japan.