Month-to-month energetic customers rise in Japan however decline in Korea, remainder of world
© WEBTOON Leisure
WEBTOON Leisure posted greater income however swung to a loss within the third quarter of 2025, as slowing consumer numbers in Korea and different international markets weighed on the corporate regardless of robust efficiency in Japan and continued development in its IP adaptation enterprise.
In line with the corporate’s most up-to-date submitting and shareholder letter launched on November 12, WEBTOON reported income of US$378 million, an 8.7% enhance from a 12 months earlier. The expansion got here primarily from paid content material gross sales and a pointy rise in income from variations of its mental property, together with movies and animation produced by its subsidiaries.
Nevertheless, the corporate recorded a internet lack of US$11.1 million, reversing final 12 months’s US$20 million revenue. WEBTOON mentioned the downturn was pushed by decrease funding revenue and better tax bills. Working efficiency additionally softened, with adjusted Earnings Earlier than Curiosity, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) falling to US$5.1 million, down from US$28.9 million a 12 months earlier.
Paid content material—the corporate’s core enterprise—rose barely to US$286.8 million, whereas income from IP variations greater than doubled. Promoting income fell about 9% amid weaker visitors outdoors Japan.
The quarter additionally highlighted diverging regional traits. In Japan, WEBTOON‘s LINE Manga service continued to broaden, with month-to-month energetic customers rising from 22.5 million to 25.3 million. However consumer numbers dropped in Korea and the remainder of the world: Korea fell 12%, and international areas outdoors Japan declined 8.5%, reflecting a broader slowdown in engagement.
WEBTOON mentioned it expects the fourth quarter to be tough. The corporate forecasts income to say no between 2.3% and 5.1%.
Supply: WEBTOON‘s press launch and shareholder letter
