Webcomic "Teenage Mercenary" achieved a record-breaking annual GMV of over 1 billion JPY
- "Teenage Mercenary" set the highest annual GMV record for a single title on LINE MANGA
- LINE MANGA has achieved the highest rank among Japanese comics apps for its monthly users
- Line Digital Frontier, which operates LINE MANGA and ebookjapan, recorded the highest GMV, exceeding 100 billion JPY in 11 months last year
LINE MANGA has created a title that generates over 1 billion JPY a year.
Webcomic “Teenage Mercenary” (written and illustrated by YC and Rakyeon) recorded its annual GMV of over 1 billion JPY last year, becoming the highest-earning single title on LINE MANGA.
The webcomic narrates the story of the protagonist who, after an airplane accident, was raised as a mercenary and acquired advanced combat skills. The character, as a high school student, solves various cases. The webcomic was first released in Korea in 2020 and has been available in 10 languages through WEBTOON global platform. The platform has around 85 million monthly active users (MAU)[1] worldwide. The webcomic has gained immense popularity, with a global cumulative view count of 1.3 billion in just 3 years.
The title was first serialized in Japan on LINE MANGA in 2021 and quickly gained popularity, accumulating over 400 million views within two years. In September last year, it achieved a monthly GMV of 180 million JPY, setting a new record. As the popularity of the title continued to grow, its annual GMV exceeded 1 billion JPY, representing the highest annual GMV for a single title since the launch of LINE MANGA service in 2013.
LINE MANGA has continued to produce titles with a monthly GMV of over 100 million JPY, such as “The Remarried Empress” (written, illustrated, and original work by HereLee, SUMPUL, Alphatart)’ and “The Dragon King's Bride” (written, illustrated, and original work by Team Cappuccino, The Kang Hee Sisters.) Since August of last year, LINE MANGA has held the top rank in Monthly Active Users (MAU)[2] among Japanese comics apps.
Sinbae Kim, the Chief Growth Officer of LINE Digital Frontier, which operates LINE MANGA, said that LINE MANGA offers timely and engaging titles to Japanese readers while supporting creators to help them generate more profits. Kim also stated that their goal is to contribute to the growth of creators and partners globally, including Japan, through WEBTOON global platform, which boasts millions of users worldwide.
Line Digital Frontier achieved its largest ever GMV in Japan through LINE MANGA and ebookjapan, exceeding 100 billion JPY in just 11 months last year.
[1] As of July, 2023
[2] data.ai, from August to December, 2023
