Manga Sales Surge Due to Anime Adaptations

In a surprising turn of events, the popularity of manga has surged, particularly due to the success of anime adaptations. Recently, architect Yoo Hyun-jun from Hongik University sparked curiosity when he shared a scene from the popular Japanese manga 'Attack on Titan' on his social media, prompting comments like, "Did your account get hacked, professor?" He accompanied the post with a thoughtful analysis and a 50-minute video on his YouTube channel.

Traditionally viewed as a niche interest for enthusiasts, manga has seen a revival, especially after a decline in the early 2000s when many comic book stores closed due to the rise of webtoons. In March, the best-selling book on the online bookstore Yes24 was 'Sakamoto Days 20 Triple Special Edition' (Daewon C.I.), a comedic action manga about a retired legendary assassin who has gained weight and now leads a more relaxed life. The anime adaptation, released on Netflix in January, quickly became one of South Korea's top 10 series.

The rise of global streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ has significantly boosted the popularity of manga-based anime, leading to increased sales of physical manga books. According to Kyobo Bookstore, manga sales grew by 9.8% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. A representative noted that interest spans across generations, with both younger and older demographics purchasing manga. Yes24 reported a 13.8% increase in manga sales from January to April compared to the previous year, and a 24.5% increase compared to five years ago.

Japanese anime has become one of the major beneficiaries of the OTT boom. Contrary to the stereotype that manga is solely for children, the industry has consistently produced content suitable for adults, with titles like 'Attack on Titan,' 'Demon Slayer,' and 'Jujutsu Kaisen' gaining international acclaim. The overseas revenue share of the Japanese anime industry has grown from 17% in 2012 to over 50% in 2023, with OTT revenues skyrocketing from 34 billion yen (approximately $327 million) in 2013 to 165 billion yen (about $1.6 billion) in 2022.

Manga is reaping the benefits of this anime popularity. Kwon Moon-kyung, a PD for manga and light novels at Yes24, stated that while manga was once seen as a niche product, the recent success of various anime films and series has made it a mainstream content choice, especially among younger audiences. Following the release of 'Demon Slayer' Season 1 on Netflix in 2021, the original manga's 24 volumes dominated the bestseller list on Yes24.

Today's manga buyers often prioritize collecting over simply keeping up with new content. For instance, a 28-year-old office worker named Seo, who attended a 'Jujutsu Kaisen' exhibition in Seoul last November, shared, "I already know the story from the anime, but I want to own the books, so I have the complete set of 'Jujutsu Kaisen.' I also bought some merchandise of my favorite characters at the exhibition."

In this renewed atmosphere of manga sales, Korean titles are also being reissued. The beloved work 'Unplugged Boy' by cartoonist Chun Gye-young, famous for the line "I dance hip-hop when I'm sad," has been republished by Munhakdongne after 28 years.