From July 30 to August 3, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), hosted the K-Story&Comics event in Los Angeles. The initiative aimed to enhance the global presence of Korean comics and achieved notable success through substantial export deals and extensive public engagement.
Now in its second year as a combined B2B and B2C platform, K-Story&Comics witnessed a significant turnout. The B2B portion of the event, held at the Hudson Loft in downtown LA, brought together approximately 74 North American companies and 10 Korean content firms. Over the three days, 231 business meetings took place, resulting in estimated export deals worth around $15.7 million. Notable U.S. participants included major entertainment and publishing companies such as Alcon Entertainment, Lionsgate, Tomorrow Studios, Inklore, and Tokyopop.
Korean companies such as Donutpeach, DCCENT, RIDI, Vivravo, YLAB EARTH, KENAZ, KW Books, TakeOne Studio, Torycoms, and Toyou’s Dream actively sought collaboration opportunities in areas like joint planning, investment, and production. RIDI and KW Books even pitched exclusive content to influential global platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Falcon’s Beyond, paving the way for potential video adaptations.
KOCCA held the K-Story & Comics in America B2B program in Los Angeles from July 30 to August 1. © Korea Creative Content Agency
In addition to business negotiations, an engaging public experience awaited attendees. The K-Story&Comics exhibition booth at the Los Angeles Convention Center attracted over 25,000 visitors during KCON LA 2025 from August 1 to 3. Comic fans had the opportunity to explore mobile-based comics in an interactive setting, with popular titles on display, including “Debut or Die!” from KW Books and “Study Group” from YLAB. The booth featured unique attractions, including an AI photo booth where users could become comic characters and merchandise giveaways to heighten the immersive experience. Attendance was further energized by guest appearances from KCON LA 2025 artists P1Harmony and izna.
Looking to the future, KOCCA plans to expand K-Story&Comics to Japan in September, the Taiwan region in October, and Thailand in December. The agency will also participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, underlining its commitment to promoting the global expansion of Korean comics.
