NCSoft Shuts Down BUFFTOON After 12 Years

NCSoft, one of South Korea's leading game publishers, has announced the closure of its webtoon and web novel platform, BUFFTOON, ending a 12-year run.

BUFFTOON Platform Image via BUFFTOON's website

Timeline of Closure

May 14, 2025: BUFFTOON announces its shutdown.
December 17, 2025: Final day of operation.

In preparation for the shutdown, BUFFTOON has already paused the sale of paid coins and the distribution of free coins starting May 14. Users will lose access to coins for in-platform purchases from June 30 onward.

Refunds and Final Notes

Refunds will be issued for unused paid coins.
Refunds for purchased webtoons, comics, and web novels will also be available.
Detailed refund procedures will be announced on May 21.

The BUFFTOON team has expressed their commitment: “We will do our best to provide a stable service until the very end.”

Background and Industry Context

Established in December 2013, BUFFTOON was NCSoft’s venture into the digital content space, focusing on the growing popularity of webtoons and web novels. Notably:

Some series like How to Hate You were adapted into live-action dramas.
In 2022, BUFFTOON partnered with MBC, one of Korea’s largest TV stations, to host a content competition.

However, the industry’s slowdown coupled with NCSoft's recent restructuring to prioritize core gaming operations led to the platform’s closure.

Other Webtoon Platforms' Shuts Down

The shutdown of BUFFTOON follows a series of closures in Korea’s webtoon industry:

Peanutoon abruptly shut down on February 28, 2025. The platform faced criticism from the Korea Cartoonist Association and the Korea Webtoon Artist Association for its sudden closure.
Bomtoon took over some of Peanutoon’s popular webtoons afterward.

Industry Impact

The closures demonstrate challenges within the webtoon industry as companies reevaluate their digital content strategies.