How Comics Are Made

Read Official HoneyToon Comics, Support Creators

By Alex Corner

Aug 20, 2026

5 minutes

I used to read webtoons without thinking twice about where I got them. But after writing an article about how Honeytoon webtoons are made, I realized just how much work goes into every episode, and I began to understand why it's important to read official releases and support the creators.

This article is an honest look at what actually happens when we read official versus piracy — and why it matters more than most of us realize.

Let’s talk about it.
— Alex

Why reading official support creators is a question more Honeytoon readers are starting to ask. Behind every episode you love on Honeytoon is a real team of people — a writer who crafted the story, an artist who spent days on every panel, a colorist, a letterer, and editors who brought it all together. As we explored in our article How Honeytoon Webtoons Are Made, creating one chapter can take weeks of dedicated work.

That’s why reading official support creators actually matters. When you read on an official platform, that work gets paid for. When you read on piracy sites, it doesn’t. Sign up on Honeytoon to read episodes the way creators intended — and make sure your support actually reaches them

Most readers who use unofficial sources simply haven’t been shown the full picture of what happens on the other side. This piece is an honest, respectful look at ethical webtoon reading, how creators actually get paid, and why your choice of platform matters more than most of us realize.

If you care about the stories and characters you love, understanding this side of things can make your reading experience even more meaningful.

How Webtoon Creators Actually Get Paid

So, let’s talk about how webtoon creators get paid. It’s straightforward. When you unlock episodes with the membership subscription or coins on Honeytoon, a portion of that money goes directly to the people who made the chapter — the writer, the artist, the colorist, the letterer, and any studio involved. This revenue is what allows them to keep creating.

Making one episode takes real time and effort. As we showed in our article How Honeytoon Webtoons Are Made, a solo creator often spends around two weeks on a single chapter, while a professional studio coordinates multiple specialists to deliver it faster. That work is only sustainable if the series earns income.

The system works like this: Readers pay for episodes (membership subscription or coins) → the platform shares the revenue with the creators → the creators can afford to make the next chapter.

This is what you can do to support webtoon creators. The important thing is choosing the official channel that actually pays them.

What Piracy Actually Costs — The Numbers

So what does piracy actually do to the people who make the webtoons we love? Does piracy hurt webtoon creators? Let’s look at the numbers to see a clear picture.

According to a South Korean government survey, webtoon piracy resulted in an estimated 840 billion won in losses during 2022–2023, representing around 20% of the industry’s total value at the time. The issue has become increasingly severe, with official data showing that piracy cases have multiplied dramatically over the past few years. Today, webtoons make up the majority of Korean content targeted in copyright takedown requests.

These aren’t small hobby sites. Some major piracy operations are estimated to cost the comics industry around 3 trillion won (roughly $2.2 billion) per month, illegally distributing thousands of webtoons and manga while paying creators nothing. They make money through ads and donations, but none of that reaches the artists, writers, or studios.

The benefits of reducing piracy become clear when major illegal sites disappear. Creators often report substantial growth in paid revenue, with some documented examples showing monthly earnings almost tripling. Officially licensed titles have also seen paid transactions increase by as much as 23% following a decline in piracy.

The effect of webtoon piracy on creators is real and measurable. It doesn’t just “not help” — it actively removes income that would otherwise go to the people making the stories. Reading officially puts money back in their pockets, helping them keep creating the content we enjoy.

The Hidden Costs Piracy Sites Don’t Advertise

So why not use webtoon piracy sites? Piracy sites love to promise “free” reading, but they rarely mention what else you’re actually getting. Unofficial apps and MOD APKs are common sources of malware, data theft, and device compromise. Many readers have lost personal information, accounts, or even control of their phones after using them. The “free” content can end up costing far more than a few coins.

Quality is another problem. Pirated versions are often low-resolution, mistranslated, incomplete, or loaded with intrusive (and sometimes harmful) ads that ruin the experience. There’s no guarantee the chapter you’re reading is accurate or even complete.

Safety and support are also missing. Piracy sites have no content moderation, no age controls, no customer support, and can vanish overnight — taking your reading progress with them.

The “free” of piracy comes with real hidden costs that the official experience simply doesn’t have. When you read officially, you get better quality, safety, and a stable platform without those risks.

What Your Official Read Makes Possible

Reading officially doesn’t just avoid hurting creators — it actively helps them keep making the stories you love.

When you read on Honeytoon, your coins and engagement directly support the writers, artists, colorists, letterers, and studios behind the series. That financial support is what allows creators to continue their work and even expand it.

Look at creators like Heraldic Lilly (Backseat Trip with my Stepmother, May I Watch At Least?, Crimson Bind, Fast & Curious) and Pantsumania (Hole 2 My Goal, Prank goes wrong, Nude In The Wood; also Big Potential, Girl Next Door). Because their series perform well on official platforms, they’ve been able to produce multiple titles and continue popular stories through sequels and spin-offs. The same goes for Mischievous Moon behind Outlaw Girl, Honeymoon With My Mother-In-Law, Teach Me First! and many others who have built careers on the platform.

Ambitious, long-form series also rely on this support. Titles like Extra Credit (177 episodes) or unique experiments like Solmi’s Channel only exist because creators can count on sustained revenue to fund months or years of work.

This creates a virtuous cycle: readers support creators → creators make more and better stories → readers get more of what they love. Reading officially supports creators in the most practical way possible — it keeps the stories alive and allows artists to keep doing what they do best.

Your choice to read officially isn’t charity. It’s an investment in the future of the webtoons you enjoy.

How to Read Officially (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Why is reading webtoons officially on Honeytoon much simpler than most people expect?

You don’t need to download any special apps or hunt for mirrors. Just open the official Honeytoon site in any browser on your phone or computer and start reading. Every series begins with free episodes, so you can try and enjoy a lot of content without spending anything.

For the rest, you can buy a membership, and you will have access to a lot of episodes that you can enjoy reading.

Following and rating series on the official platform also helps a lot. It helps more readers discover the series, which is another meaningful way to support the artists you enjoy.