Kakao Entertainment launches webtoon boot camp

Kakao Entertainment and webtoon production company Kenaz's ″Webtoon Academy″ poster [KAKAO ENTERTAINMENT]

Kakao Entertainment is launching a webtoon boot camp to discover 20 wannabe authors and train them to become professional webtoonists, the company said on Tuesday.

Kakao Entertainment will kick off a Webtoon Academy talent-nurturing project with webtoon production company Kenaz next month to find fresh talent and train them through one-on-one lessons from experts. The academy will start on Aug. 5.

Teachers will include Lee Woo-jae, president of Kenaz, who has directed the production of over 300 webtoons over the past 17 years, producers from Kakao Page and webtoonists currently active in the field.

The current trend in the webtoon industry is division of labor. Contrary to the past, when a webtoonist did all the work, webtoons these days are joint efforts involving storyboard writers, background illustrators, colorists, story writers and illustrators. The academy will help students find their specific talents. During the academy period, students will be given a studio to work in.

The program will last four months. From applicants, a group of 20 students will be chosen after interviews later this month. Anyone above the age of 19 can apply.

Students who excel will see their work serialized on Kakao Entertainment's webtoon platform Kakao Page.

Even if students do not see their work published, Kakao Entertainment will support them in the future by submitting their work to other platforms.

If a student completes the program, the academy will return the 2.8 million won ($2,445) tuition fees.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]