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| ▲This photo, provided by SBS, shows drama "Today's Webtoon." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- Webtoon and producer is a familiar concept to us. But the word webtoon producer seems unfamiliar.
Take a look at the reality of being an webtoon producer, which was not mentioned in Drama "Today's Webtoon."
Webtoon producers Kim Hyun-woo of 15 years and Shin Ye-eun of 3 years, who met with Yonhap News Agency at Naver webtoon office on Tuesday, said creating "fun work" with writer was the most important duty of an webtoon producer.
Shin producer said, "It's job that discovers a webtoon and make it into something fun," adding, "A person who likes certain work the most becomes the producer as he can see the shinning point of that webtoon the best."
This is why one of the most important task of webtoon producer is giving feedback.
Kim producer said "We first look over synopsis, and then make decisions about the contents while talking about scripts," adding, "It is impossible to draw again in just a day when it has to be released next afternoon like the drama."
He also said while some see the relationship of webtoon producer and writer as superior-subordinate, but it is more of a relations who run three-legged race together or a business partner with stronger bond
Kim producer said, "If webtoon platform has no works, it's just an empty shell," adding, "While the number of webtoons has exceeded over 550 works, fun works are still needed. That is why we think of writers as the first priority."
Shin producer said, "It's hard to call us a business partner when we share too many secretive things with writers," adding, "We are the first people writers come to when they get hurt by mean comments."
She chose the story of producer pressuring the writer to end the work early when its popularity decreases as the biggest misunderstanding of webtoon producer.
Shin producer said, "While readers may think that webtoon rankings are key measurements, It is not that important to us," adding, "Low ranking works still have their fans, and some have higher sales. So we don't tell them to end it."
Regarding taking breaks, Kim producer said, "If the writer requests a break, we decide on the resting period based on writer's desired period and direction after a sufficient discussion" adding, "Although taking a break has big influence on viewing cycle, what is more important is health and condition of creator."
It was also mentioned that unlike the drama, producers do not compete each other over a writer and do not have team dinners that often.
Kim producer said "What is the most different from the drama is having team parties," adding, "Because works are uploaded at night, at least one person has to be monitoring." He said the work was a 24 hour shift system as one producer has to be in charge of multiple writers.
Kim and Shin producers had slightly different answers when asked what was the most rewarding thing in work.
Shin producer said, "I feel rewarded and happy when creator writes 'This work wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for you' or when they respect my ideas and make my ideas into something so much better."
Kim producer said, "I feel rewarded when writer in my charge becomes rich," adding, "It feels good to see them living in a small accommodation with no room to buy a house and be in a condition where they can only focus on work."
They also emphasized the charm of webtoon producer as webtoon industry is becoming bigger.
They said, "There is no 'webtoon native' in the world like Koreans. We have been consuming content since the beginning of webtoon, so we know grammar and work better than anyone," adding, "Although it is easy to misunderstand us, know that we love webtoon dearly."
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)
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