Tapas shutdown and Kakao Entertainment's webtoon platform consolidation
On Sept. 22, 2026 Kakao Entertainment announced it would merge KakaoPage and Kakao Webtoon into a KakaoPage-centred service by year-end and close Tapas, its North American webtoon and web-novel platform. Tapas ends on March 31, 2027; episodes users already unlocked will become inaccessible and cannot be moved to other Kakao services, and Ink purchases are non-refundable, drawing complaints from readers and creators. Kakao acquired Tapas in 2021; the merged Korean platform will hold about 16,000 original IPs.
Fact Claim Disputed Rumor Not true
What was announced
Kakao Entertainment will fold its separately run KakaoPage and Kakao Webtoon into a single KakaoPage-centred platform this year, describing it as a move to use core capabilities more efficiently through selection and concentration. Overseas, it plans to reorganise around IP rather than running its own platforms and to work with Piccoma in the Japanese comics market.
As part of this, it is closing Tapas, the North American platform it bought in 2021. Tapas's notice called winding down the decade-old platform a very difficult decision.
1,2,6,7For readers: losing what they paid for
The biggest backlash concerns digital purchases. Per the Tapas FAQ, readers can use remaining Ink to unlock episodes until March 31, 2027, but afterwards even unlocked episodes will be inaccessible. They cannot be moved to KakaoPage or Kakao Webtoon, and Ink is non-refundable.
By contrast, Korean Kakao Webtoon users' purchase and rental rights are reported to carry over to KakaoPage, a difference critics pointed out.
1,3,5Creators
Tapas says titles stay up until shutdown unless removed, creators may keep publishing and may request removal, and exclusivity clauses will be reviewed contract by contract; its creator support program continues until the end.
Creators nonetheless complained of little advance notice and uncertainty about contracts and income. Tapas had been described as hosting 75,000 creators and 100,000 titles. Platforms including GlobalComix, BookWalker and Webtoon offered to take in displaced creators.
1,3,4,5Timeline
- Fact Kakao Entertainment acquired webtoon platform Tapas and web-novel platform Radish for about 1.1 trillion won (about $780 million) in total; Tapas was valued at about $510 million.2
- Fact Tapas and Radish merged into Tapas Entertainment.2
- Fact Radish shut down.2,7
- Fact Kakao Entertainment announced Kakao Webtoon would merge into KakaoPage by year-end and Tapas would close, combining about 16,000 original story IPs and user data.2,6,7
- Fact Date Kakao said it would brief KakaoPage and Kakao Webtoon users on integration details.6,7
- Fact Tapas posted its end-of-service FAQ (updated Oct. 1), stating that all Ink transactions are final and non-refundable.1
- Fact Users can no longer acquire Ink on Tapas, including free Ink; remaining Ink can be spent until shutdown.1,4
- Fact Scheduled end of Tapas (23:59 PT); the site and previously unlocked episodes become inaccessible.1,4
What people say — checked
Tapas's official FAQ says unlocked content cannot be transferred to other Kakao services such as KakaoPage or Kakao Webtoon.1,4
The FAQ says all Ink transactions are final and non-refundable; remaining Ink can only be spent on episodes until shutdown.1,4
The Beat cited about $800 million, but Korean reports cited by ANN put roughly 1.1 trillion won (about $780 million) as the total for Tapas and Radish combined, with Tapas valued at about $510 million.2,3
Kakao Webtoon as a separate service will be merged into KakaoPage by year-end, but its works and user data move to the combined platform; its works are not disappearing.2,6,7
The FAQ says creators may continue publishing new material until shutdown.1,4
A claim by Tapas founder Chang Kim on LinkedIn, reported by The Beat on Oct. 1; not confirmed by Kakao.5
Why it's an issue
- r/manhwa [The Beginning after the End] Author on Tapas closing down 2026-09-24 · 월간 상위 37위
- 언론 보도 Anime News Network·The Beat·아시아경제·블로터 등 국내외 보도 2026-09-22 · 발표 당일 국내외 동시 보도
บทความที่เกี่ยวข้อง
Sources
- official Tapas, Tapas End of Service FAQ, 2026-09-30
- press Anime News Network, Kakao Entertainment to Shut Down N. American Webtoon Platform Tapas, 2026-09-22
- press The Beat (ComicsBeat), Report: Kakao is shutting down Tapas webtoon platform, 2026-09-22
- press Anime News Network, Tapas to End Service in March 2027, Leaving Readers Without Access to Purchased Content, 2026-10-01
- press The Beat (ComicsBeat), Tapas update: shut down and creators, 2026-10-01
- press 아시아경제, 카카오웹툰, 연내 카카오페이지로 통합…글로벌은 IP 중심 재편, 2026-09-22
- press 블로터, 카카오엔터, 연내 '페이지·웹툰' 플랫폼 통합, 2026-09-22
- community Reddit r/manhwa, [The Beginning after the End] Author on Tapas closing down, 2026-09-24
How this article was made: read official statements, court/regulator records and at least two independent outlets; community posts are used only as attention signals. Written by Hallyu Wiki editors with AI assistance — check the sources. ขอแก้ไข