Startup integrates film, game, and animation production from initial webtoon planning stage

In a world where beloved characters from webtoons come to life in games and films. There is a startup creating delightful imaginative possibilities. Kang Kyunghoon, CEO of Sorak, stated, "Our goal is to expand webtoon intellectual property (IP) into various forms such as films, games, and animations, creating an environment where authors and readers can co-create and communicate."

Sorak, founded by Kang in 2023, considers film, game, and animation production from the initial webtoon planning stage. The company has established a collaborative system between creators and stakeholders across different genres. Since the grammar used in webtoons, films, and games differs, the initial planning stage aligns genres and settings, preemptively resolving potential expression-related issues during genre transitions.

He said, "When webtoon IP expands into games or animations, webtoon views and sales also increase," adding, "We aim to fully realize the potential of IP across diverse platforms, not limited to webtoons alone."

Kang himself communicated with readers as a webtoon author for 10 years. During his time as an author, he experienced the limitations of webtoon IP firsthand. With the global webtoon market growing, he noted that planners and creators from various genres are now showing interest in webtoon IP, foreseeing expansion possibilities.

He mentioned, "To ensure the profitability and global scalability of IP, webtoons should not merely be serialized but produced with video and game adaptations in mind from the initial planning stage."

Sorak is targeting Japan and North America as key markets. Japan has an ecosystem suited for animations and merchandise, while North America is ideal for video production. Currently, with 6 employees, the company is handling IP planning, production, and overseas collaborations. To date, it has developed 24 works and is involved in three overseas collaboration projects in Japan and North America.

Kang said, "Many webtoon authors enjoy collaboration and are delighted when their works are adapted into videos or animations." He added, "We optimize genres, settings, and character structures in advance to ensure natural expansion into videos, games, and animations, minimizing risks and maximizing profitability."

Sorak has secured 300 million Korean won in investment and was selected for TIPS, establishing a foundation for early growth. The company's future goal is to build an ecosystem where authors and readers can interact.

Kang stated, "We want to create content that inspires and moves people by exchanging ideas with authors and readers," adding, "By establishing our own platform, we will create a competitive ecosystem where webtoons naturally expand into videos, games, and animations."

Sorak Builds IP Ecosystem Beyond Webtoons