The 2025 World Webtoon Awards has announced its 26 finalists and launched a new Readers' Choice Award that allows fans worldwide to participate in the selection process for the first time. The awards ceremony, co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, will take place on October 22 at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul.
This year's competition attracted unprecedented international attention, with more than 1,300 reader-recommended titles submitted according to the ministry's announcement on Monday. From an initial pool of 99 eligible works that included both creator submissions and top reader picks, a jury comprising representatives from Korean webtoon services narrowed down the selection to 26 finalists. Among these finalists, three works are created by Japanese authors, highlighting the global reach of the competition.
The newly introduced Readers' Choice Award represents a significant development in the awards program, allowing fans from around the world to cast their votes online through the World Webtoon Awards website until October 21. The finalist that receives the most votes will be awarded this special recognition, giving readers a direct voice in determining one of the winners.
The remaining awards, including the Grand Prize, Jury President's Award, and eight other categories, will be determined by a distinguished panel of creators, academics, critics, and industry experts. This judging panel is led by veteran artist Lee Hyun-se, a respected figure in the webtoon industry. Notably, Gwangjin, who won last year's Jury President's Award for "The Great," will serve as a member of this year's judging panel, bringing the perspective of a previous winner to the evaluation process.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to coincide with the World Webtoon Festival, which will run from October 19 to October 22 at Lotte World Ice Rink. The celebration extends beyond these dates, with special exhibitions and pop-up stores planned around Lotte Tower from October 16 to October 26, creating an immersive experience for webtoon enthusiasts.
A Culture Ministry official emphasized the significance of the event, stating that it will serve as a space for both industry professionals and readers around the world to celebrate achievements in the webtoon medium. The official also indicated that the government would continue to support initiatives that bring creators and audiences together, demonstrating ongoing commitment to fostering the growth of the webtoon industry and its global community.
