[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

“’Ppongpongnam controversy' on Naver webtoon… users flee and protest”, 5 November 2024

Naver Webtoon, a leading platform for Korean webtoons, has found itself embroiled in controversy over accusations of ignoring misogynistic content. … Over 100 Naver Webtoon users organised a protest, sending trucks and condolence wreaths to the Naver building.

The misogyny controversy began on 25 September, when an amateur webtoon … passed the first round of Naver Webtoon’s competition. The title included the term ‘Ppongpongnam*, an online derogatory term referring to … women with extensive dating experience, likening them to dirty dishes. This sparked immediate backlash.

...

Naver Webtoon has stated that it is "gathering various opinions," but some critics argue that the platform missed the opportunity to address the issue in a timely manner.