North American webtoon platform Tapas will shut down on March 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. PDT, according to an updated FAQ published by the platform on October 1.
Following the shutdown, users will lose access to the Tapas platform and any previously unlocked episodes. Purchased content and purchases cannot be transferred to other Kakao services, including Kakao Page and Kakao Webtoon. Tapas also states that Ink purchases are generally non-refundable under its existing refund policy.
Users can continue using their remaining Ink to unlock episodes until the service ends. However, Tapas stopped allowing users to purchase additional Ink on October 1, including free Ink obtained through the app. The platform also said it currently has no plans for additional sales or special events before the shutdown, and content prices will remain unchanged.
For creators, Tapas titles will remain available until the service ends unless removed earlier. Creators can continue publishing new material during the remaining service period, meaning readers may still receive new chapters before the shutdown. What happens to individual series afterward will depend on creators’ agreements and future publishing arrangements, including the terms of any exclusivity clauses.
Creators who want to remove their titles before the shutdown can submit requests through Tapas’ Creator Inquiry Form. The platform has not announced plans to migrate Tapas titles to another Kakao service. Users can also request copies of their account and personal data by contacting Tapas.
Kakao Entertainment’s North American Strategy
Kakao Entertainment announced on September 22 that it would shut down Tapas, marking the end of its direct operation of a major North American webtoon platform.
Kakao Entertainment acquired Tapas and webnovel platform Radish in 2021 for approximately US$510 million and US$440 million, respectively. The two platforms were later merged into Tapas Entertainment in 2022. Kakao Entertainment shut down Radish in 2025, saying it would focus its North American story business on Tapas.
The Tapas shutdown will effectively end Kakao Entertainment’s direct operation of its North American webtoon and webnovel platforms.
In South Korea, meanwhile, Kakao Entertainment plans to consolidate Kakao Page and Kakao Webtoon into a single platform centered on Kakao Page by the end of 2026. The company plans to combine their content, user data, and approximately 16,000 original intellectual properties.
