Naver Webtoon debuts a new short-video streaming platform
Naver Webtoon, a leading digital comics platform, is set to launch its new short-form video service, Cuts, in September. This move follows the company's earlier foray into short-form content with the New & Hot feature, which was launched on its North American platform in May.
Cuts will offer webtoon series as short-form video content, marking a shift from the traditional vertical-scroll format. The service aims to cater to the growing preference for short-form video content among webtoon consumers, particularly among Generation Z and young Millennial audiences.
The inaugural exclusive series on Cuts will be "A Day in the Life of Ms. Kim Ae-yong", a slice-of-life comedy starring Ae-yong, the feline character from the hit webtoon "My Daughter Is a Zombie." The series will follow the daily lives of that webtoon's family members from the cat's perspective. Additional original content by well-known webtoon creators is planned but has not been specifically named yet.
Cuts will blend both condensed versions of existing webtoons and exclusive original productions, aiming to capture younger audiences who prefer short-form video content. The upcoming Korean launch of Cuts will also feature recap content and exclusive original productions.
Kakao Entertainment, the operator of Kakao Page, also entered the short-form video market in April with the launch of Helix Shorts. Helix Shorts features AI-generated videos designed to promote webtoons on Kakao Page, and this trend towards short-form content consumption coincides with Naver Webtoon's move to launch Cuts.
In a special episode of "My Daughter Is a Zombie," which aired in May, characters from the webtoon teased the movie and introduced the new Cuts platform. The series follows the daily lives of the webtoon's family members, with the cat as the series' main protagonist. The film adaptation of "My Daughter Is a Zombie" is set to premiere on Wednesday.
According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's 2024 Youth Media Usage and Harmful Environment Survey released in April, 94 percent of Korean students from grades 4 to 6 in elementary school, as well as middle and high schoolers, reported consuming short-form content. This suggests that the demand for short-form content among younger audiences is on the rise, making Cuts a timely and strategic move by Naver Webtoon.
[1] Naver Webtoon Launches New & Hot Feature on North American Platform, Focuses on Recaps of Existing Webtoons in Short-Form Format, May 2022. [2] Kakao Entertainment Enters Short-Form Video Market with Helix Shorts, April 2022. [3] Characters from "My Daughter Is a Zombie" Cross-Promote New Cuts Platform, May 2022.
- With the launch of Cuts, Naver Webtoon is merging webtoons with short-form video technology, aiming to cater to the lifestyle preferences of younger audiences.
- As technology advances, more and more young people are leaning towards short-form video content, as indicated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's survey, with 94% of Korean students consuming such content.
