Naver Webtoon announced that it will introduce "Cuts," a new platform focused on short-form video content, to its app starting in September. Cuts is a vertical viewing service for animated content, lasting 1-3 minutes. This service aims to move away from the traditional static webtoon viewing experience and expand the user experience to a video-centric consumption model.
Naver Webtoon piloted "New & Hot," a short-form content summary of existing webtoons, in the North American market last May. However, Cuts, now entering the Korean market, goes beyond simple summaries to include original content and user-generated content (UGC) exclusive to Cuts.
The first original content is "Kim Ae-yong's Day," a daily comedy featuring the cat character "Ae-yong" from the popular webtoon "Zombie Daughter." This content appears to be focused on lowering the entry barrier for Cuts and increasing initial platform usage by utilizing characters familiar to existing readers. It also seamlessly ties into the promotion of the upcoming film based on "Zombie Daughter," which will be released on the 30th.
This short-form strategy is driven by a rapidly growing demand for short-form content, particularly among teenagers and those in their 20s. According to a survey by CJ Mezzo Media, the average daily consumption of short-form content is 44 minutes, with teenagers spending 75 minutes and those in their 20s spending 54 minutes, significantly exceeding the average. Consequently, the overall webtoon industry is also witnessing a rapid expansion of short-form content. Cuts will operate as an open platform where anyone can create and upload short-form animations.
