Tapas to End Service in March 2027, Leaving Readers Without Access to Purchased Content – News

North American WEBTOON platform Tapas will end its service on March 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. PDT, according to an updated FAQ published by the platform on October 1.

For readers, the shutdown means that both the platform and previously unlocked content will become inaccessible after the service ends. The shutdown also means that readers will lose access to previously unlocked episodes. Unlike some digital platforms that allow users to retain purchased content after a service closes, Tapas will no longer provide access to the platform or its content after March 31, 2027. Readers will not be able to transfer content or purchases to other Kakao services such as Kakao Page or Kakao WEBTOON. Tapas also states that Ink purchases are generally non-refundable under its existing refund policy.

Tapas users will have until the shutdown date to use their remaining Ink, the platform’s virtual currency, to unlock episodes. Starting on October 1, however, users can no longer acquire additional Ink, including free Ink through the app. Tapas also said there are currently no plans for additional sales or special events before the shutdown, and content prices will remain unchanged.

For creators, Tapas says that its titles will remain available through the end of service unless they are removed earlier. Creators can also continue publishing new material, with no immediate plans to restrict new uploads. Readers may continue to see new chapters from their favorite creators during the remaining service period. However, what happens to individual series after Tapas closes will depend on the creators’ agreements and future publishing arrangements. Tapas specifically noted that exclusivity clauses will be reviewed according to each creator’s contract.

Creators who want to remove their titles before the shutdown can submit a request through Tapas‘ Creator Inquiry Form. The platform has not announced a general migration of Tapas titles to another Kakao service. Tapas also said that users can request copies of their account and personal data by contacting the company. Creators with questions about their titles, contracts, or future arrangements have been directed to the platform’s creator support channels.

Kakao Entertainment announced on September 22 that it planns to shut down its North American WEBTOON platform Tapas. This will mark the end a major part of its direct platform strategy in the region five years after investing about 1.1 trillion won (about US$780 million) to acquire Tapas and webnovel platform Radish.

Kakao Entertainment acquired Tapas and Radish in 2021, valuing the two companies at about US$510 million and US$440 million, respectively at the time. The two platforms later merged into Tapas Entertainment in 2022. Kakao Entertainment shut down Radish in 2025, saying that it would focus its North American story business on Tapas. The planned Tapas shutdown would effectively end Kakao Entertainment‘s direct operation of its North American WEBTOON and webnovel platforms.

In South Korea, Kakao Entertainment plans to consolidate its two WEBTOON platforms, Kakao Page and Kakao WEBTOON, into a single platform centered on Kakao Page by the end of the year. The company plans to bring together the platforms’ content, user data and about 16,000 original IPs.

Source: Tapas