- IPX collaborated with “LINE Manga” to present the first pop-up for the webtoon “Enrollment Mercenary,” which has been ranked No. 1 in LINE Manga's annual ranking for 2 consecutive years... Manga's original “LINE FRIENDS SQUARE SHIBUYA” located in Japan, opened amidst the enthusiastic anticipation of local fans

- Expanding various webtoon IPs that were only accessible on screens, starting with IPX and “mercenaries for admission,” to an online and offline IP experience including pop-ups, licenses, collaborations, and stickers with our own IP business expertise... Accelerating Japanese business expansion by diversifying IP experiences by adding localization strategies targeting Japanese fanaticism

- “The Perfect Soldier (The Perfect Soldier)” theme, from IPX's creative products to a digital media experience space that expands the worldview of “Enrollment Mercenaries,” adding a sense of immersion to provide a special IP experience... An autograph session with artists from YC and Rak Hyun was also held together, continuing coverage by local fans and media in Japan

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[Feb. 7, 2025] Digital IP entertainment company IPX (formerly LINE FRIENDS) teamed up with Naver Webtoon's Japanese service LINE Manga to open the first pop-up store “The Perfect Soldier (The Perfect Soldier)” for the webtoon “The Enrollment Mercenary,” at LINE FRIENDS Square Shibuya, where admission to the pre-event ended in less than half a day, making us feel the popularity of local fans.

The original Korean webtoon “Enrollment Mercenary (Text/Picture YC/Rak Hyun)” is an exhilarating action drama where the former strongest mercenary grows through the love of his family and friends. It was sensationally popular in Japan's LINE MANGA and has been ranked No. 1 in LINE MANGA's annual rankings for 2 consecutive years since 2023.

IPX, which has created a new IP success formula by creating globally popular IPs such as LINE FRIENDS and BT21, is now joining hands with LINE Manga to expand into the webtoon IP field, and the strategy is to expand points of contact with local fans by implementing various webtoon IPs that could only be seen on screens in the future, starting with this “mercenary for admission” pop-up, product, and licensing business. Above all, it is expected that K-webtoons, which are heating up the world, will continue to renew their own IP business in the Japanese market, target fans' tastes, and accelerate the expansion of the IP business in Japan.

The most prominent space in this pop-up was the large 40-square-meter media zone located on the first basement floor, and it attracted many fans by being able to deeply immerse themselves in the worldview of the characters and artist in “Mercenaries for Enrollment.” The three-dimensional images and sounds that surround the wall and floor provide a special media experience where visitors can become one of the characters and enjoy a spectacular action drama played by the protagonist. In the pop-up, a special video showing famous Japanese voice actor Saito Soma performing with the voice of the main character will also be screened, so you can enjoy the webtoon in a more realistic way with an urgent and exhilarating sense of realism.

Also, special visuals and products not seen in webtoons attracted the attention of local fans. Key holders, stands, and tapestries with illustrations of the main characters newly drawn by artist Rak Hyun for this pop-up were revealed, adding a special touch. In addition, IPX's creatively designed military camouflage fashion item inspired by webtoons, and the SW Group's replica fashion item, office supplies, and employee ID card, where the main character works, also attracted attention by hearing comments that they made use of the character's three-dimensional sense.

At this pop-up, which runs until February 25, YC artist and artist Rak Hyun, a mercenary, held an autograph session on site and had time to meet fans in person amid intense coverage from local Japanese media. Japanese fans who visited the pop-up said, “Being able to experience the 'mercenary for admission, 'which I had only seen in webtoons, directly at LINE FRIENDS Store... it's a different feeling from a webtoon!” There were various responses, such as “I bought SW themed office supplies, and when I used them in the office, I felt like I was the real protagonist.”

Meanwhile, IPX successfully hosted the “2024 IPX SUMMIT” for 270 local partners in Shibuya, Japan in July of last year, and officially announced a new IP business plan to capture local Japanese fandom, including webtoons, games, and trendy promising domestic IPs and K-pop IPs, and announced a new leap forward in the Japanese market, where LINE FRIENDS characters were born.