• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.51
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• pp.181-201
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• 2018

The cartoon industry in Korea has continued to decline due to the contraction of published comics market and decrease in the number of comic books rental stores until the 2000s when it rapidly started to experience qualitative changes and quantitative growth due to the emergence of webtoon. The market size of webtoon industry, valued at 420 billion won in 2015, is expected to grow to 880.5 billion won by 2018. Notably, most cartoonists who draw cartoon strips are using digital devices and producing scripts in data, thereby overcoming the geographical, spatial and physical limitation of contents. As a result, a favorable environment for the creation of local ecosystems is generated. While the infrastructures of human resources are steadily growing by region, cartoon industries that are supported by the government policy have shown good performance combined with factors of creative infrastructures in local areas such as webtoon experience centers, webtoon campuses and webtoon creation centers, etc. Nevertheless, it is true that cartoon infrastructures are substantially based on a capital area which leads to an imbalanced structure of cartoon industry. To see the statistics, companies of offline cartoon business in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province make up 87%, except for distribution industry. In addition, companies of online cartoon business which are situated outside of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province form merely 7.5%. Studies and research on local webtoon are inadequate. The existing studies on local webtoon usually focus on its industrial and economic values, mentioning the word "local" only sometimes. Therefore, this study looked into the current status of local webtoon of the present time for the current state of local cartoon ecosystem, middle and long-term support from the government, and an alternative in the future. Main challenges include the expansion of opportunities to enjoy cartoon cultures, the independence of cartoon infrastructure, and the settlement of regionally specialized cartoon cultures. It means that, in order to enable the cartoon ecosystem to settle down in local areas, it is vital to utilize and link basic infrastructures. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider independence and autonomy beyond the limited support by the government. Finally, webtoon should be designated as a culture, which can be a new direction of the development of local webtoon. Furthermore, desirable models should be continuously researched and studied, which are suitable for each region and connect them with regional tourism, culture and art industry. It will allow the webtoon industry to soft land in the industry. Local webtoon, which is a growth engine of regions and main contents of the fourth industrial revolution, is expected to be a momentum for the decentralization of power and reindustrialization of regions.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.55-83
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• 2023

In this study, we propose the establishment of a specialized comic and webtoon library within the newly constructed library in Cheongju City. The aim is to create the library as the ultimate multi-cultural space, contributing to the enhancement of local residents' information utilization skills and future competencies. To achieve this, we conducted a foundational survey and current status analysis of a comic and webtoon specialized library, based on which we put forward a plan for its development. The research results yield the following outcomes: First, we provide concrete justifications and feasibility for the establishment of a comic and webtoon specialized library in Cheongju City. Second, we offer specific proposals for the vision, mission, roles, and functions of the comic and webtoon specialized library. Based on these research findings, if a comic and webtoon specialized library is constructed in Cheongju City, it has the potential to become a local landmark and serve as a unique cultural and tourist resource. Furthermore, by providing facilities and resources for various information services related to comic and webtoon creation and experiences, it can contribute to nurturing talents that lead the way in future industries.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.39-54
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• 2018

This study aims to expand K-Wave business. For this, it firstly investigated previous studies and pointed out limitations of the current scope of the K-Wave business. Therefore, as a theoretical background, it attempts to construct an analysis framework based on four types of creativity type model and to redefine the concept of K-Wave business, which refers to a series of business activities that create, utilize the asset, and reuse the originality of intellectual property assets. This study analyzes the business activities of K-Wave's asset creation, utilization, and talent linkage during 2013~2017. The scope of the asset creation covers the highest ranked movies, dramas, and K-pops, while the utilization of those is analyzed in cosmetics, food, and fashion industries. The personal talent is the source of new K-Wave value creation and Webtoon IP is analyzed. As a result, in the case of movies and dramas, the representative market is China, which is the result of the efforts to avoid the continuation of China's regulation and the development of local OTTs. It is confirmed that the product development for Chinese consumers is active as activities of K-Wave utilization in cosmetics, food and fashion. Interesting is that new K-Wave content is circulated in the beauty sector. Finally, it is confirmed that Webtoon IP, which has been structured with a solid story in individual talent, is the origin of new K-Wave asset creation such as movies and dramas.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.93-100
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• 2015

Markets of e-book and app book in Korea see novel as genre literature and webtoon account for 80 percents in sales so that market share is too based towards some specific fields. In readiblily and easy-to-buy convenience, different from paper books mostly sold off-line, app books are more advantageous but it works as a weak point to take long to publicly spread them before they are generally accepted. Meanwhile, the sales of the e-book market in Korea has been steeply risen. Further, the market is not only restricted to genre literature but also has come into the stage that various experimental challenges are issued in the field of publication contents. This study is aimed at developing the sightseeing app book as a future web-mobile platform with planning and develping the first app book dealing with localized contents based on Busan tour contents, making up for its defect that it offers only current simple information and then suggesting a strategy that the travelers' app book should be available for constant utilization connected to purchase by charged download.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.49
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• pp.359-382
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• 2017

Content is the complex of art and technology of trend, so it is important to experience different technologies for content education. Today, many non-profit organizations plan and operate numbers of programs for disabilities, low-income, and minority families to enhance the quality of life and the realization of social integration. These programs are limited to museums and galleries, not so pro-actively in progressing. Various contend education is necessary to the expansion of cultural exchange for the culturally alienated area. Naver is running an outreach program named . It is an experience-based outreach program where current cartoon / webtoon writers come directly to the school to inform students about the basic story of comics and comic techniques. However, the fact that the is not centered on the marginalized area but is centered on the Seoul Gyeonggi area, has the limitation that they can not benefit from a wide range of programs because they have a space limit of 'school', and, has a spatial limitation that the experience of the work is excluded. 'Outreach programs in marginalized areas' must be reorganized into a fluid dimension, not a fixed, single-system program. You should be able to experience and experience your work by directly using various professional equipment of comics based on your capacity and experience, local culture, religion, and society. These program participants will gain the effect of attractive and effective learning with empathy with their comic experience. Meanings of Comics content outreach program are following: First, the rich cultural archive can be used efficiently by providing various contents to existing outreach programs with the educational limitation of museums and galleries. Second, Comics contents can be enjoyed as a part of our life by understanding diversity and technology of contents. Third, because it is the program of expertise' participation, it can remodel, and restructure the severed experience in remote areas for the continuous growth and development, and furthermore, it can enhance the understanding of society.