Korean Government Unveils Standard Contract Guidebook to Protect Webtoon Creators
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Standard Contract Guidebook Aims to Protect Webtoon Creators
South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) announced on May 29 that they will release an official commentary guidebook for the standard contract used in the comics and webtoon industry. The guidebook will be accessible to the public starting June 13.
What’s Inside the Standard Contract?
The revised contract, updated in June 2024, offers crucial protections for webtoon creators, including:
- Rest periods: Guaranteed two rest weeks for every 50 episodes serialized.
- Transparency: Platforms must provide clear, transparent revenue statements.
What the Guidebook Offers
This upcoming guidebook aims to help creators understand and apply the contract terms by providing:
- Clear explanations of core contractual clauses
- Step-by-step instructions for drafting fair agreements
- Advice on identifying red flags in unfair contracts
- Guidance on handling copyright violations
How to Access the Guidebook
The guidebook will be freely downloadable from:
Recent Regulatory Actions
On May 18, South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced it had reviewed contracts of 23 content providers, finding 1,112 unfair clauses across 141 templates. The identified issues included clauses allowing unauthorized production and use of derivative works like films and dramas without creators' consent, prompting mandatory revisions.
Source: YNA (Soon-hyun Lim)