A horserace between Korea platform rivals Kakao Corp. and Naver Corp. intensifies as the two clash over leadership in the digital comics realm across Asia and the United States.

According to application data provider AppAnnie on Tuesday, Kakao Webtoon, the digital comics platform run by Kakao Entertainment, and Line Webtoon, the global version of Naver Webtoon, became the top two highest-grossing entertainment apps in Android and iOS in Thailand in August.

Kakao Webtoon was estimated to have ranked ninth and Line Webtoon 10th by sales via smartphones, but Line Webtoon came ninth and Kakao Webtoon 10th by sales from all devices including tablet PCs. The rankings are based on projected estimates, and final rankings will be confirmed early next week.

Although the two run on different business models, the two Korean names wage tensed contest in on Thai online field. Line, Naver’s chat app, was the highest-earning entertainment app in Thailand.

Kakao Entertainment launched Kakao Webtoon in June in Thailand and Taiwan, prior to its release in any other markets. Kakao Webtoon ranked top in the comics category on Google Play Store and came second in the entertainment category on Apple AppStore on its launch day. The popularity was owed to the efforts of the company to make hit comics in Korea and Japan fit the local demand and trend.

By Oh Dae-seok and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]