French writer Bernard Werber’s full-length novel “Les Fourmis (The Ants)” is being reborn as a Korean webtoon. This marks the first time that the i...
Author Bernard Werber speaks during a press event for the webtoon “ANT” at Hotel Crescendo Seoul in Gangnam-gu on September 3. / Yonhap News French writer Bernard Werber’s full-length novel “Les Fourmis ” is being reborn as a Korean webtoon.
This marks the first time that the intellectual property of the global bestseller will be adapted into webtoon format. The project carries additional significance as collaboration between the production prowess of K-webtoons and the IP of a world-renowned bestseller. At a press event for the webtoon “ANT,” held at Hotel Crescendo Seoul in Gangnam-gu on September 3, Werber said, “Webtoons are an important medium for delivering stories to the younger generation through smartphones. I’m delighted that ‘The Ants’ will meet many new, young readers in this way.” The event was attended by Werber, illustrator Kim Yong-hoe, and Lee Woo-jae, CEO of KENAZ, which handles production and distribution. Werber, who had already seen the completed first and second episodes, commented, “Unlike traditional comic books, the vertical format that drives the story forward felt almost cinematic.” He added with a laugh, “It must have been very difficult to depict the ants as distinct characters since they all look alike. It reminded me of when I first came to Korea and thought everyone looked the same, only to later recognize the differences.” He went on, “Korea now feels like my second home. I hope to continue finding ways to meet readers in diverse formats.” First published in France in 1991,"The Ants” is a science fiction novel that explores survival, evolution, and social structures by contrasting ant and human societies. It was translated and published in Korea in 1993, where it caused a sensation and has since remained a steady seller. Considering the popularity and symbolic weight of the original, the adaptation into a webtoon has gone through a thorough preparation process. Illustrator Kim Yong-hoe said, “The original story is excellent and has broad appeal, so adapting it into a webtoon posed no major difficulties.” He added, “We are working closely with the production team to adjust the pacing and ensure that the story resonates more engagingly with today’s readers in 2025.” Kim is a veteran cartoonist who has serialized titles such as “Dr. Fine’s Day,” “Goblin Hill,” and “A Summer Night’s Dream” on Kakao Webtoon. Kim said that he placed special emphasis on giving the main characters distinctive traits to enhance visualization. “For example, I gave the soldier ants scars and portrayed the queen with a commanding physique. I also set it up so that the ants exchange dialogue like humans from the very beginning, allowing readers to immerse themselves easily,” he explained. 문화 많이 본 기사 CEO Lee Woo-jae said, “For webtoons to expand into the global market, new genres and IP are essential, and we chose ‘The Ants’ as the starting point.” He revealed that preparations for the project began two years ago, including direct negotiations in France with multiple IP managers of the novel to finalize the webtoon adaptation. The project was further accelerated after being selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency’s “2025 Global Webtoon IP Production Support Program.” The webtoon “ANT” is planned as a long-term series of about 150 episodes to be serialized over four to five years. Simultaneous publication in Korea and France is expected as early as November, though the platform has yet to be confirmed. Lee added, “We are working to distribute the series across 100 platforms in 30 countries. In France, it will be released through the local platform Ono.”
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