Naver Webtoon Launches 'Ballad of the Hero' as First Global Drop, With Twist Strategy Targeting 9 Markets

Webtoon Entertainment, the U.S.-based parent company of Naver Webtoon, has fully launched 'Global Drop', a project to release titles simultaneously worldwide. It is leading the push into global markets with the epic high-fantasy series 'Ballad of the Hero' as its first title.

'Ballad of the Hero,' unveiled on the 19th, was released simultaneously worldwide in 9 languages: Korean, English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Thai, Indonesian and Traditional Chinese. Offering an officially serialized title in nine languages without any time lag is the first such effort since 'Webtoon Entertainment' was founded.

'Global Drop' is a strategic project that delivers major comeback titles and highly anticipated releases simultaneously, without country-by-country publication delays. The initiative aims to maximize global readers' engagement and boost a title's commercial potential, while also shutting down overseas piracy at the source — a longstanding problem in the industry — to fully protect creators' earnings.

A reincarnated swordmaster's saga targets readers worldwide with killer content

The first title selected, 'Ballad of the Hero,' is a high-fantasy series based on the web novel of the same name by author Dodongpa. It follows the powerful swordmaster, exploited as a tool of war throughout his life before meeting a tragic end, as he is reincarnated 100 years later as a boy named Ricard.

Yeon Go-eun, chief business officer at 'Webtoon Entertainment,' said, "We have created an environment where readers around the world can enjoy high-quality titles at the same time." She stressed that the effort "will have a positive impact across the industry by protecting creators' earnings and blocking illegal distribution, among other benefits."