MstoryHub
MstoryHub is a South Korean digital content company producing and licensing original webtoons and web novels across romance, fantasy, and drama genres, distributed through Naver Webtoon, Kakao Page, and Naver Series to readers in Korea, Japan, and other markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What MstoryHub does
MstoryHub (엠스토리허브) is a South Korea-based digital content company founded in 2015, headquartered in Seoul, that produces and distributes webtoons, web novels, and promotional video (PV) content. The company operates across serialized fiction genres including romance, fantasy, court drama, and transmigration, with a portfolio of original titles led by The Remarried Empress (재혼 황후), which ranked 2nd in Japan's annual webtoon ranking. Other notable titles include Scandal Maker is Back, The Perks of an S-class Heroine, Duchess in Ruins, From That Garden, and Dragon's Seduction. The company employs 51–100 people and is led by CEO Gisoo Lee (이기수).
The company's business model centers on content licensing and royalty revenue from distribution through major Korean platforms — primarily Naver Webtoon for webtoons, Kakao Page for novels, and Naver Series for serialized fiction — supplemented by direct consumer revenue from merchandise, physical print volumes, and crowdfunding campaigns on TenTenTen (텐바이텐), as well as collaboration pop-ups and themed cafes. MstoryHub has been actively expanding its IP monetization footprint through animation co-production with Seoul Land and Cocktail Media (May 2024), a global short-form content partnership with DramaBox (April 2025), and overseas brand collaborations including a Mom's Touch Tokyo pop-up for The Remarried Empress (May 2024).
In August 2022, private equity fund KL&Partners invested in MstoryHub via convertible bond at an approximately 120 billion KRW (~$91M USD) valuation, with an explicit IPO target within three years. The company is incorporated in South Korea as 주식회사 엠스토리허브 (MstoryHub Co., Ltd), operates as a private company with no public listing or disclosed subsidiaries, and currently serves audiences primarily in Korea and Japan with selected global platform reach through Naver and Kakao distribution.
MstoryHub firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MstoryHub
- Legal name
- 주식회사 엠스토리허브
- Website
- https://mstoryhub.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MstoryHub is a South Korean digital content company producing and licensing original webtoons and web novels across romance, fantasy, and drama genres, distributed through Naver Webtoon, Kakao Page, and Naver Series to readers in Korea, Japan, and other markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MstoryHub industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Webtoon and Web Novel Publishing
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Licensing & Rights Monetization (UGC Licensing, Music/Video Rights) (MPACAFAK)
Keywords
Where MstoryHub is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
MstoryHub business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Webtoon and Novel Content Licensing: MstoryHub produces and distributes webtoons and web novels, generating revenue through licensing content to major platforms like Naver Webtoon and Kakao Page, as well as through direct sales of physical volumes and merchandise.
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
MstoryHub product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MstoryHub is a South Korean digital content studio that creates, publishes, and licenses original webtoons and web novels. The company monetizes its IP through platform licensing on major Korean webtoon portals, print volumes, and character-branded merchandise. Its catalog includes internationally recognized titles such as The Remarried Empress (재혼 황후).
Product overview
MstoryHub operates as a digital content company specializing in webtoons (digital webcomics) and web novels (serialized fiction), with additional PV (promotional video) and SERIES offerings. The platform publishes and distributes original Korean content across multiple genres including romance, fantasy, transmigration, and court drama. Notable flagship titles include The Remarried Empress, Scandal Maker is Back, and The Perks of an S-class Heroone. The company utilizes external distribution channels including Naver Webtoon and Kakao Page for content delivery to readers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Remarried Empress (재혼 황후) Flagship isekai/fantasy romance webtoon serialized on Korean webtoon platforms and translated internationally. Targeted at romance/fantasy readers globally.
- Webtoon Catalog Portfolio of original serialized webtoon titles (digital comics) distributed via Korean webtoon platforms. Targeted at readers of romance, fantasy, and drama genres.
- Web Novel Catalog Portfolio of original web novels serialized on Korean web novel platforms and adapted into webtoons. Targeted at readers of romance, fantasy, and drama genres.
- Print Single-Volume Editions Physical single-volume printed editions of popular titles, sold through retail book channels. Targeted at collectors and physical-book readers.
- Character Merchandise Character-branded merchandise (goods) derived from MstoryHub's IP, sold to fans of the original titles. Targeted at existing readers and fandom consumers.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Remarried Empress ranked 2nd in Japan annual ranking
Companies that use MstoryHub
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
MstoryHub technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MstoryHub partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- Toonie Collabo CafeminorCollaboration cafe promoting the Scandal Maker is Back webtoon with themed merchandise and food items.
- Drama BoxmajorMstoryHub partnered with Drama Box to develop global short-form content based on their webtoon and web novel IPs.
- Seoul LandmajorAnimation co-production partnership between Seoul Land, MstoryHub, and Cocktail Media for webtoon IP adaptation.
- Cocktail MediamajorAnimation co-production partnership for adapting MstoryHub webtoons into animated content.
- Mom's TouchminorCollaboration for The Remarried Empress Tokyo collaboration pop-up store, combining food service with content merchandise.
- Naver WebtooncorePrimary distribution partner for MstoryHub's webtoon content. The company's webtoons including The Remarried Empress are available on Naver Webtoon platform.
- Kakao PagecoreDistribution platform for MstoryHub's webtoon and web novel content including titles like Perks of an S-class Heroine.
- Naver SeriescoreDistribution platform for MstoryHub's web novel series content.
- TenTenTen (텐바이텐)minorCrowdfunding platform used by MstoryHub for merchandise campaigns including physical volumes and goods for titles like Scandal Maker is Back Season 2.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MstoryHub competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Naver Webtoon: Operates the world's largest webtoon platform and is also MstoryHub's primary distribution partner. Comparable as a publisher/distributor of serialized digital comics; far larger scale and vertically integrated, but anchors the same ecosystem MstoryHub monetizes within.
- Kakao Entertainment: Owner of Kakao Page, MstoryHub's secondary distribution platform. Operates Kakao Page's own webtoon and web novel publishing arm, plus drama/music IP production; directly comparable in business model with much greater scale and capital.
- Piccoma: Japanese webtoon platform (owned by Kakao) and major distribution channel for Korean webtoons in Japan. Comparable as a major platform/publisher in the Japanese market — directly relevant given MstoryHub's strong Japan ranking.
Direct peers
- Lezhin Comics: Korean webtoon publisher operating a paid webtoon platform with original serialized content. Comparable as a Korean webtoon publisher competing for the same creator talent and reader attention.
- Tappytoon: Cross-border webtoon and web novel publisher offering Korean titles internationally (including in English and Japanese). Directly comparable to MstoryHub's distribution and licensing business, especially in Japanese market.
- Bomtoon: Korean webtoon platform operated by NHN with original serialized content. Comparable as a Korean webtoon publisher focused on romance/fantasy genres that overlap with MstoryHub's catalog.
- Tapas Media: Digital comics and novel platform publishing serialized content in English, now part of Kakao Entertainment. Comparable in business model (serialized digital comics/novels with licensing and merchandise extensions).
- Ridibooks: Korean web novel and e-book platform with original serialized fiction publishing. Comparable as a Korean web novel publisher operating in the same content ecosystem as MstoryHub.
- Webtoon Entertainment: US-based entity formed from Naver Webtoon's international operations, focused on English-language webtoon publishing and IP development. Comparable as a webtoon IP publisher and adapter, though English-language focused.
Emerging players
- Kuaikan Manhua (Kuaikan): Chinese webtoon/manga platform with significant original IP production and international expansion. Comparable as an emerging webtoon publisher competing for global serialized digital comics audience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MstoryHub social profiles
Digital presenceMstoryHub financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MstoryHub leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MstoryHub funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MstoryHub M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MstoryHub
What does MstoryHub do?
MstoryHub is a South Korean digital content studio that creates, publishes, and licenses original webtoons and web novels. The company monetizes its IP through platform licensing on major Korean webtoon portals, print volumes, and character-branded merchandise. Its catalog includes internationally recognized titles such as The Remarried Empress (재혼 황후).
Is MstoryHub a public or private company?
MstoryHub is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MstoryHub founded?
MstoryHub was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MstoryHub based?
MstoryHub is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does MstoryHub make money?
One revenue line is on record: webtoon and Novel Content Licensing.
Who are MstoryHub's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Naver Webtoon, Kakao Entertainment and Piccoma. Direct peers are Lezhin Comics, Tappytoon, Bomtoon, Tapas Media, Ridibooks and Webtoon Entertainment. Kuaikan Manhua (Kuaikan) is listed as an emerging player.
Does MstoryHub have an API?
No public API is recorded for MstoryHub.
What industry is MstoryHub in?
MstoryHub's product category is Webtoon and Web Novel Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAFAK, Creator Licensing & Rights Monetization (UGC Licensing, Music/Video Rights).