Busan's Global Webtoon Festival 2024 Blends Comics and Film

Busan, South Korea – The 8th annual Busan Global Webtoon Festival is set to kick off from October 3 to October 6, 2024, with a strong focus on merging webtoons and cinema under the theme "Webtoon the Movie, Multiverse." Taking place at the Busan Cultural Content Complex and surrounding areas in Centum City, the event promises to attract not only local talent but also international creators from countries like Italy, Egypt, Taiwan, and Japan. Over 180 webtoon artists are expected to participate, making it one of the most significant gatherings in the digital comic industry​.

The festival is part of Busan’s broader "October Festival" initiative, which integrates 17 international events, including the prestigious Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Festival Siwal. Busan city officials anticipate this combination will boost tourism, drawing crowds from both domestic and international locations​.

The central theme of this year’s event, "Webtoon the Movie, Multiverse," explores the intersection of webtoons and film, allowing artists to reinterpret famous movie scenes and posters through webtoon art. Visitors will be able to view exhibitions such as "Webtoon, The Movie Multiverse," and "The Webtoon That Wants to be a Movie," alongside special showcases celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Ruler of the Land (열혈강호), Korea’s longest-running comic​.

The event will feature workshops and lectures from notable webtoonists, including Lee Jong-beom, creator of Dr. Frost, who will lead a masterclass on adapting webtoons into visual media. In addition, Italian artist Stefano Casini will host a special drawing masterclass, adding international flair to the festival​.

Other highlights include discussions with webtoonists from Taiwan and Japan, such as Ruan Guang Min and Nonomori, who will provide insights into their work and the global evolution of webtoons​.

The Busan Global Webtoon Festival is open to the public for free, with exhibitions running daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in live drawing sessions, caricature workshops, and even drawing competitions such as "Battle Drawing: Beat the Artist," allowing fans to engage directly with the creators. Another crowd favorite is expected to be the "Live Drawing Show," where webtoon artists will demonstrate their craft in real-time​.

A significant portion of the festival is dedicated to fostering the growth of the webtoon industry. From October 2 to 4, a business networking conference will bring together 16 domestic and international webtoon companies. This event will offer aspiring webtoonists a platform to debut their work and explore commercialization opportunities. Industry giants such as Naver Webtoon and Kakao Webtoon are expected to participate in this three-day event, which will also include one-on-one private consultations​.

With the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) happening simultaneously, the proximity and timing of the events are expected to create synergies, drawing a larger and more diverse crowd to both festivals. Additionally, joint ticketing options and collaborative promotional activities between the two festivals will help attract audiences with a broader range of interests​.