There has been a growing conflict between Resin Entertainment and Webtoon artists who run paid Webtoon platform Resin Comics. There is growing concern both inside and outside the industry that this situation could have a negative impact on the domestic webtoon market, which has just become an industry.

According to industry sources on February 7, Lezhin Comics ended the work of two webtoon writers who filed suit on June 6. These writers are the people who are at the center of the `blacklist controversy` as a writer and a Mitch writer who filed suit by Resin Enterprise.

Meanwhile, Lezhin Entertainment has said it has started legal action in response to the "unreasonable defamation of resin by some writers" at the end of last month. Both writers disclosed that they received unfair treatment from Resin Enterprise on the Internet, and Resin Enter filed a civil lawsuit against Seoul Central District Court. Besides, Resin Enter is said to have stopped the serialization because it could damage the company as well as other authors due to the false fact of timing.

In the Webtoon industry, the company is raising questions that the company has suspended the series without advance notice or agreement with the artist. Artists of Webtoon, on February 7, protested in front of the Resin Enterprise headquarters and demanded a lawsuit, apology, etc. in joint action.

The friction between Resin Enter and the writers rose in August last year when the company announced that it would unilaterally end its web novel service. Since then, a webtoot artist has revealed on the internet that he has not been properly paid for the Chinese serials, and the conflict has been ignited as suspicions have arisen that there is an artist blacklist inside the company. Resin Enter said that it lacked communication with the artists, and announced measures such as the establishment of the communication department of the artist and the abolition of the perception of expenses, but the writers repulsed them with unfair contracts and blacklist existence.

The Korean Cartoonists Association, which runs the Korean Webtoon Writers Association, is also empowering artists. The association, together with an advisory lawyer, announced plans to cope with the lawsuits of two writers. According to the association, about 20 million won has been collected, which will be used as legal aid. An official from the Korea Manga Artists Association said, "I will continue to grasp the situation of the artists and if there is a part where the association should respond together," he said.

Meanwhile, in the industry, the confrontation between resin enterers and writers is expected to lead to a weakening of the competitiveness of resin platforms. Actually Cheong Wa Dae appealed to the National People`s Petition to call for Resin Entertainment`s investigation of the Fair Trade Commission, and writers are expected to hold a press conference for the National Assembly. It is the response of the industry that it is doubtful whether users will continue to use resin comics, as it seems likely that the artists will depart from this atmosphere.

One Internet industry representative stated, "As the controversy erupts, I know that the artist has moved to other platforms." "From the platform standpoint, securing and retaining artists is the biggest assignment, so there will be a blow to the competitiveness of the Lezhin."

Lezhin Entertainment stated, "I am not in a position to disclose a specific position because I am in a lawsuit."

By Jin Hyun Jin 2jinhj@


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