Lee will discuss the business of webcomics and fandom at the January 8th event, which brings together entertainment leaders from around the world
“Webcomics have transformed fandom and entertainment for Gen Z, who have fallen in love with the stories on our platforms, and via adaptations on screens and bookshelves all over the world”
Lee will be joined by Cynthia Littleton, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, who will moderate the fireside keynote conversation about the explosive growth of webcomics around the world and how the format is fueling the global entertainment market.
“Webcomics have transformed fandom and entertainment for Gen Z, who have fallen in love with the stories on our platforms, and via adaptations on screens and bookshelves all over the world,” said David J. Lee, COO & CFO of WEBTOON Entertainment. “Some of the most notable recent streaming hits have come from our platforms, and the entertainment industry has seen that incredible storytelling and built-in fandoms produce audiences that follow their favorite franchises across formats. I’m excited to join the lineup of great speakers at the 2025 Variety Entertainment Summit and showcase how WEBTOON and webcomics are delivering entertainment hits while supporting creators.”
With approximately 170M monthly active users, over 24M creators, and 55M stories across its platforms, WEBTOON Entertainment is a global storytelling phenomenon. The company has built a global IP & Creator Ecosystem of opportunities for creators, including multiple storytelling platforms, and two studios developing hit content – Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and Studio N. WEBTOON Entertainment adaptations regularly rank among top performing content on global streamers, with hits like Sweet Home on Netflix, Vigilante on Disney+, and Tower of God on Crunchyroll.
WEBTOON Entertainment regularly collaborates with some of the world’s most exciting brands to bring their IP to new Gen Z audiences. The company has worked with brands like Duolingo, Ubisoft, BTS management company HYBE, Atlantic Records, DC Comics, and many more.
Variety’s 2025 Entertainment Summit at CES is a one-day event that brings together top entertainment visionaries to explore how new technologies and innovations are steering the future of film, TV, digital media, music, podcasts, gaming, and more. Incoming Sony Pictures Entertainment President and CEO Ravi Ahuja will headline the event alongside a robust lineup of compelling speakers, including: Jen Wong, COO of Reddit, Fernando Szew, President & Head, of FOX Entertainment Global and Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll. For further information on the event and this session, visit Variety.com/CES.
