KoreaTechToday - Korea's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform
  • Topics
    • Naver
    • Kakao
    • Nexon
    • Netmarble
    • NCsoft
    • Samsung
    • Hyundai
    • SKT
    • LG
    • KT
    • Retail
    • Startup
    • Blockchain
    • government
  • Lists
KoreaTechToday - Korea's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform
  • Topics
    • Naver
    • Kakao
    • Nexon
    • Netmarble
    • NCsoft
    • Samsung
    • Hyundai
    • SKT
    • LG
    • KT
    • Retail
    • Startup
    • Blockchain
    • government
  • Lists
KoreaTechToday - Korea's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

Naver to Focus On Growth for Future Naver Webtoon US IPO Listing

James Jung by James Jung
PUBLISHED: April 22, 2021 UPDATED: April 22, 2021
in Entertainment, IT, Naver, Tech Industry
0
Naver Webtoon
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.

Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.

Naver Corp., South Korea’s leading search engine operator, announced that it has plans to list Naver Webtoon in the US. Established in 2017, Naver Webtoon is a webcomic platform dedicated to cultivating innovative story creators while closely valuing consumers. According to Naver, the planned Naver Webtoon initial public offering (IPO) listing is part of its efforts to go global.

Focusing on Growth

Currently, Naver acquires over 95% of its revenue from domestic operations. Due to this, Naver aims to improve its standing in international markets. To this end, Naver considers issuing more dollar bonds after raising $500 million in its first dollar bond sales in March. Notably, the development company plans to file a US IPO for Naver Webtoon in the future.

“To grow, it’s inevitable that we go global,” said Park Sang-Jin, Chief Financial Officer at Naver Corp. “We should find business opportunities and meet capable partners to supplement our assets.” Park also shared that Naver actively looks for more opportunities in European, Southeast Asian, and Taiwanese markets. Naver also plans to cultivate its operations in Japan, where its Line messaging app continues to gain popularity.

Following Coupang’s debut in the New York Stock Exchange last month, other South Korean companies also launched global expansion plans. For instance, Kakao Entertainment recently shared that it is boosting its content portfolio in preparation for a US IPO listing. Furthermore, Naver continues to invest in international companies to enhance its global presence. In March, Naver strategically invested in the Spain-based digital marketplace platform Wallapop to expand its e-commerce businesses.

Strengthening its Storytelling Businesses

In January, Naver also acquired the world’s largest storytelling platform Wattpad to strengthen its storytelling business operations in North America. Naver also bought Wattpad as part of its goal of becoming a global multimedia entertainment provider. Currently, Naver competes with Kakao Corp. in acquiring Munpia Inc., a local web novel platform, for boosting original IP content.

In December 2020, Naver relocated Naver Webtoon’s headquarters to Los Angeles, preparing for potential international IPOs. Moreover, Park stated Naver Webtoon would file an IPO when its operations in the US become more solid and investor-friendly. According to Naver, Naver Webtoon mainly focuses on growth and leading the global webcomic market rather than profitability. Since its international release, Naver Webtoon gained more than 70 million monthly users. This year, analysts also expect the webtoon unit’s revenue to reach $304 million.

Similarly, during the Collision Conference 2021, Naver Webtoon’s CEO Kim Jun-Koo stressed the importance of diversity in storytelling content. Kim said that Naver Webtoon would introduce new AI-based production tools to foster talent and help amateur creators become professionals. Naver’s CEO, Han Seong-Sook, also participated in the event, promoting IP and digital content expansion. 

In particular, Han vowed to create synergy between Naver Webtoon and Wattpad to cater to Generation Z’s digital enthusiasm. Wattpad’s CEO Allen Lau also revealed that they would adopt more than 90 Wattpad novels into various multimedia content.

Check out other must-read articles from KoreaTechToday:

  • Naver Buys Wattpad For 653 Billion Won
  • Kakao Entertainment Looks into US IPO, Aims for $18 Billion Valuation
  • SK IE Technology To File For IPO, Targets To Raise $1 Billion
  • Kakao Japan Launches Studio 1Pic to Cultivate Korean Webtoons
Tags: IPOIPO listingNavernaver webtoonUS IPOwebtoon

Related Posts

Korea’s APEC Digital & AI Forum Highlights Asia’s Push for Responsible Tech Leadership
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.
South Korea

Korea’s APEC Digital & AI Forum Highlights Asia’s Push for Responsible Tech Leadership

October 24, 2025
LG Uplus Bows to Pressure, Will Report Hacking Signs to Cybersecurity Watchdog
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.
LG

LG Uplus Bows to Pressure, Will Report Hacking Signs to Cybersecurity Watchdog

October 22, 2025
South Korea Tightens Cyber Defenses After Detecting Government Hacking Attempt
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.
Government

South Korea Tightens Cyber Defenses After Detecting Government Hacking Attempt

October 21, 2025
When Data Fails Trust: A Deep Dive into South Korea’s Escalating Breach Crisis
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.
Editorial Feature

When Data Fails Trust: A Deep Dive into South Korea’s Escalating Breach Crisis

October 17, 2025
Naver–Dunamu Merger Talks Signal a New Era in Korea’s Digital Finance
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.
Naver

Naver–Dunamu Merger Talks Signal a New Era in Korea’s Digital Finance

October 7, 2025
South Korea Prepares Fourth Launch of Homegrown Nuri Rocket
Naver said it would actively expand its presence in international markets to help strengthen storytelling business Naver Webtoon for a future US IPO.
Government

South Korea Prepares Fourth Launch of Homegrown Nuri Rocket

October 1, 2025
No Result
View All Result

Most Popular

  • Ride-Hailing Rivalry: Kakao and Uber Bet on Membership Services in Korea

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Kakao Mobility Faces $10.5 Million Fine for Limiting Competitors’ Access to Taxi Platform

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Korea’s Navigation Battle Heats Up: Naver and Kakao vs. Google maps

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 5 Best Korean to English Translation Apps

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Naver Maps Launches Guide in English, Chinese, and Japanese to Enhance Travel Experience for Tourists

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Naver Unveils Asia’s Largest Data Center, GAK Sejong, for Tech Innovation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Naver Video Streaming Service V Live to Go Global

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What SK Group’s ‘AI Now & Next’ Summit Reveals About the Future of Intelligent Korea

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • South Korea’s $2.26 Billion Vision: A Robotic Revolution by 2030

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hanwha Aerospace to Develop Indigenous Turboprop Engine for South Korea’s Next-Gen UAVs

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

PRODUCTS

[ads_amazon]

TOPICS

  • Naver
  • Kakao
  • Nexon
  • Netmarble
  • NCsoft
  • Samsung
  • Hyundai

FREE NEWSLETTER

FOLLOW US

  • About Us
  • Cookie policy
  • home
  • homepage
  • mainhome
  • Our Services
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2024 KoreaTechToday | About Us | Terms of Use |Privacy Policy |Cookie Policy| Contact : [email protected] |

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Naver
    • Kakao
    • Nexon
    • Netmarble
    • NCsoft
    • Samsung
    • Hyundai
    • SKT
    • LG
    • KT
    • Retail
    • Startup
    • Blockchain
    • government
  • Lists

Copyright © 2024 KoreaTechToday | About Us | Terms of Use |Privacy Policy |Cookie Policy| Contact : [email protected] |